THE defending champions Spartans and last season’s runners-up Hard Court Kings won their opening games in the Monday Squad Basketball Cebu (MSBC) - Season 5 Friendship Cup 2019 last March 11 at the Casals Village Gym.

The Spartans totally dominated Aspa with a lopsided 85-58 victory, with the one-two punch of Ian Ortega and Joshua Balankig leading the surge. Ortega, a former member of the Cebu City Sharks, scored 32 points, while Balankig scored 30. Aristotle Alcos added 10.

Cris Delarma led Aspa with 18 markers, while Mil Anthony Linao and Warren Cañete had 10 each.

The Hard Court Kings, in the meantime, beat the Rams, 75-67. Jan Jan Auditor scored 13 points, Randy Delapisa added 11 and Jherjacs Jaca chipped in 10 for the Hard Court Kings. (EKA)