Of the 11 teams that began their 2018-19 campaigns, only three survived the opening weekend with 100% records in tact.
⚡️ Recap some of the best bits from the opening weekend of the 2018-19 BBL season!#BritishBasketball https://t.co/nqBndz8UGN
— British Basketball League (@BBLofficial) September 24, 2018
League newcomers London City Royals are part of that trio having made their debut a successful one with a 73-78 victory away at Bristol Flyers as Matthew Bryan-Amaning finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Manchester Giants finished second bottom last season, but they too made an encouraging start to the new season with an impressive 87-92 triumph at DBL Sharks Sheffield. Torry Butler top scored with 19 points, while fellow new recruit Mike McCall added 17.
Good win!! way to stay TOGETHER throughout the whole game!! On to the next🏀 @McrGiants 🐝
— Mike McCall Jr. (@AyoMCJr11) September 21, 2018
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle held off Cheshire Phoenix for an opening night 75-70 victory with Rahmon Fletcher handing out 10 assists in the win. Ben Thomas' side bounced back on their own home floor on Sunday with a 91-83 victory over Worcester Wolves.
"The win came from just going out there and having fun, playing team defence.
"Once the crowd got into it, our momentum and our tempo raised and that really helped us stay on track." - Dii'jon Allen-Jordan, who top scored with 22 points.
The Wolves had got off to a winning start on Friday night as Robert Crawford's 28-point outing inspired a 93-81 success as Paul James made a losing return to Worcester.
However, Plymouth also put an opening defeat behind them in beating London Lions 95-88 at the Pavilions on Sunday. Joonas Jarvelainen fired in 28 points off the bench, while Josh Wilcher had 26 points and Donte Nicholas added 11 assists to 16 points.
"I'm just really pleased with the reaction from the players from the game on Friday where we didn't play very well.
"I thought it was a fantastic game in front of a great fan base and I thought we played really well both defensively and offensively." - James, Raiders' head coach.
The Lions were dominant at the Copper Box on Friday night with Brandon Peel putting up 23 points and 16 rebounds to lead his side to a crushing 100-66 win over Radisson RED Glasgow Rocks.
Bouncing back from losses seemed to be the theme of the opening weekend and that was initiated by the Rocks as they earned redemption on the road with a 92-94 triumph against Surrey Scorchers.
They had a commanding 22-point half-time lead wiped out in the third quarter before Ali Fraser stepped up with the first game-winner of the new season.
🎥 Check out the Top 5 plays from Saturday’s win against Surrey Scorchers 🔥🏀 pic.twitter.com/DVjX8VNHGj
— Radisson RED Glasgow Rocks (@rocksglasgow) September 24, 2018
Meanwhile, Leicester Riders went down to Bakken Bears in a 193-161 aggregate loss in the Basketball Champions League qualifier and will now play in the FIBA Europe Cup.
