Defending champions Pate Phnom Penh 310 got off to a flying start in the opening game of the 2015 Angkor Beer Cambodia League at the Olympic Stadium Indoor Arena on Saturday, marking the first week of the third season with a 75-53 win over new comers Woods’ Peppermint Lozenges.

In Sunday’s two other games, CCPL Warriors pulled out a little extra every time TCT Rock got closer to win 63-51 while Mekong Tigers jumped to an early lead and firmly held on to it in their 67-59 win over NSK Dream.

Last season’s MVP, Ouch Phanat swiftly got into his stride to net the first few points before his able ally Sovan Panha kept his attacks on the rim in the second quarter going to give Pate a healthy looking 18 point half way advantage.

Woods had difficulty in finding who their go-to guy was in the first half, but in the second they turned to Harrison Wallace who delivered 14 points which helped the side cut down the lead to nine at the start of the fourth quarter. It was here that Pate’s defence came into play, forcing many turnovers.

In Sunday’s first game, TCT Rock and CCPL Warriors played out a tight first quarter. Meas Kelyanora was rocking the Warriors with nine consecutive points in a 10 minute session that ended all square at 19. The Warriors, however closed out the second quarter at 16-06 for a 10 point lead, mainly using their size advantage and Keith Kelly shooting seven points. The next two sections were pretty close but each time Rock trying to close in, the Warriors stretched out.

Dream took on the decidedly stronger Mekong Tigers with a degree of confidence. Jae Jae’s long range success and Borey Rattanank’s jab at the defence ensured Dream were not more than two regulation baskets behind the Tigers.

The third quarter saw Pheng Darath and Pheng Dararithy reinforce the Tigers hold on the game. But just when the Dream were beginning to make another bold run, Borey Rattanak was fouled out half way through the fourth quarter, leaving the side without an inside enforcer. Sok Samnang and Dararithy made the most of this setback for the Dream.

SCORES:

PATE PP 310: 75 (Sovan Panha 15, Phanat Ouch 15, Colin Meyn 11) beat WOODS PEPPERMINT LOZENGES: 53 (Harrison Wallace 19, Christopher Ocampo 9)

CCPL Warriors: 63 (Carlos Gatudala 18, Cliff Figueras 14) beat TCT Rock: 51 ( Dy Sabotra 15, Meas Kelyanoren 13)

MEKONG TIGERS: 67 (Pheng Darath 17,Pheng Dararithy 17, Hong Kidom 12) beat NSK DREAM: 59 (Jae Jae 24, Borey Rattanak 14)