Griffith College Éanna made a winning start to their Men's Super League title defence as they mounted a late surge to see off 2022/23 champions, Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU 75-56 on Saturday evening in the MTU Arena.
While the Dublin side rocketed into an 18-point advantage by the close of the first quarter, Ballincollig managed to recoup 11 in the second, thanks in no small measure to Todd Wolfe, who finished with a game-high 22 points.
Yet a good spread of double-digit scoring from Neil Lynch (17), Stefan Desnica (15), Kristijan Andabaka (15) and Josh Wilson (11) helped Éanna steady the ship and outscore their opponents by 11 in the closing quarter to help secure some early spoils.
"It's great to get off to a winning start, but I was more impressed with the squad's attitude during the game" said Griffith College Éanna head coach, Darren McGovern. "They stuck to the plan and executed really well for most of the game" he added.
A huge second quarter, in which they outscored their opponents by 17, set Energywise Ireland Neptune on track for a hard-fought 96-87 win over Belfast Star in Newforge Sports Complex.
The hosts, under the leadership of new head coach, Rafi Olmassakian, led by 11 midway through the opening quarter, thanks in no small part to heavy scoring from Maurice Jones (25) and Conor Quinn (22).
Yet, with Ar’mond Davis and Darragh O’Sullivan totalling 48 points between them on the night, the Cork side battled their way back to ensure a winning return to the club for head coach, Pat Price who last led the team in 2015.
A strong finish that saw them take the fourth quarter by 11 points, proved essential in seeing Flexachem KCYMS record a 75-64 success on the road against UCD Marian.
Jeffery Okeke emerged the game’s top scorer on 25 points, while Nathaniel Powell, Beni Fungula and Jordan Blount amassed a total of 28 rebounds that helped undo the newly-promoted, Dublin side.
Zvonimir Cutuk drained a bucket 16 seconds from time to take his personal tally to 32 points and clinch a dramatic 79-77 triumph for Maree away to Templeogue in Nord Anglia on Saturday night.
A huge haul of 57 points for Tavias Fagan and Immanuel Allen went a long way to helping the hosts into a six-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but a combined 15 down the stretch by Cutuk and Joe Mvuezolo hauled Maree back for a thrilling victory.
Killester were the only team to break the century mark on the opening night of the Men’s Super League, beating Bright St. Vincent’s 104-89 in the Oblate Hall.
Kason Harrell and Isiah Dasher accounted for 49 points, while Baptiste Chazelas soaked up 15 rebounds in this Dublin derby, as Killester outgunned a St. Vincent’s team, for whom Samuel Henderson netted 25 points.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors’ 93-80 comeback win away to UCC Demons in the Mardyke Arena on Sunday, wrapped up the opening weekend of the new Men’s Super League season.
The visitors found themselves 14 points adrift of their opponents at the end of the first quarter, but stormed back in the second to overtake into five-point lead by the break.
Solid scoring by Gregorio Adon (23), Marquavian Stephens (21), Brandon Mahan (18) and Daniel Jokubaitis (18) helped see them keep Demons at bay throughout the second half.
Men's Super League results
Saturday 5 October
Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU 56-75 Griffith College Éanna
Belfast Star 87-96 Energywise Ireland Neptune
UCD Marian 64-75 Flexachem KCYMS
Templeogue 77-79 Maree
Killester 104-89 Bright St. Vincent’s
Sunday 6 October
UCC Demons 80-93 Garvey’s Tralee Warriors
