THE PANTHERS and the Sharks were on a mission in their Elite Basketball Club–Cebu Season 11 openers as they defeated their respective foes last Sunday at the Visayan Glass Gym in Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Fresh from grabbing their historic fifth Elite crown last season, the Panthers blew past the Pelicans, 62-59.
Former Shark Paul Salarda and Mark Penerio spearheaded the Panthers’ offense with 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Last year’s runners-up Sharks, meanwhile, posted a more convincing win, an 86-54 beatdown of the newly formed squad Mambas.
Sharpshooting Rorie Paspie scored 19 points for the Sharks while James Jayson Ty collected 13 markers.
In the other Sunday games, the Lions scored a 62-58 win over the Cheetahs while the Rhinos nipped the Wolves, 79-70. Last Friday, the title favorite Falcons soared over the Rams, 73-59, while the Eagles routed the Huskies, 117-66.