With only seven players, the defending champion SOUTHORN Tigers routed G.T. Explorers, the 1st runner-up of the previous season, 44:30 to open the season. This win extended a cross-season winning streak to five games for the Tigers and gave them a first game reaching the 40-point mark. Tigers forward Terence Chan was aggressive all night, recorded his second career double-double, scored 14 points and 12 added rebounds. G.T. Explorers guard Eddie Ng start the game with a three point shot, and he scored all his five points in the first period. Chi Wing Chow made one of two free throws in the first period, scored his first career points in six games. The game was tied at nine before Benny Wong hit a three pointer and Terence Chan made a free throw as the Tigers took a 14:10 advantage into the 2nd period. Defense were tighened up as both teams scored only about half of the point they did in the previous period. Eddie Sze and Martin Khan scored all the team��s 4 points and also their points of the night in the period. Wai Chun Wong has two turnovers in two consecutive possessions and the Tigers called a time-out. After the time-out, the Tigers forward remained on the floor and made a fast break basket and was fouled. After two different lane violations from the Explorers for that free throw, Wai Chun Wong swished the final one in three tries. He missed all his next 5 field goal attempts in the game, however. The Tigers took a 21:14 lead at halftime and continue to outscore the Explorers in the final two periods. Explorers Aston Lie is the only player to score for the team in the third period, making two for two three point attempts. Tigers Centre Wilson Chow hit two turn-around jumpers at almost the same spot near the free-throw line, together with baskets by Terence Chan and Chi Wing Chow, and one free throw from Benny Wong, the Tigers lead 31:20 entering the final period. Explorer Bryant Chan tried to come back on his own, hit a three pointer, a jumper and then followed by another three pointer, scored 8 points in the final period but the lead was too back for them to overcome. The Explorers guard scored a team-high 11 points, added three rebounds, two steals and one assists, but he also committed 5 turnovers. Explorer top scorer and rebounder Michael Killeen was listed on the roster but did not show up. Tigers guard Benny Wong has a league record five assists but shoot only 1-9 in the field, all from three point range. All seven Tigers scored 3 or more points.