HOLDERS Frankwell kicked off their Super Commercial Cup title defence on a winning note at the Southorn Stadium last night but Energy sounded a warning they are the team to beat with an impressive 116-73 demolition of Fukien.
Frankwell, represented by the Moscow Select last year but with SWH-Broceni of Latvia flying their colours this time, carved out a 106-92 victory over China's Winnerway.
Coach Armands Kraulins was far from happy with their performance and said: ''Our season had finished almost a month ago and the players have been resting since, so they are not in form.
''This is a good warm-up game for us and we should play better in our next match. I am confident we can help Frankwell to the title.'' Frankwell pulled away to a 23-12 lead after nine minutes and never looked back, holding a 44-34 advantage at half-time and going on to win by 14 points.
Rauno Pehka scored 25 points for Frankwell while Russian international Elchad Gadachev hit 20, but the top-scorer of the match was Winnerway's ex-Chinese international Zhang Yongjun with 27 points, including five three-pointers.
Energy, comprising the cream of foreign players who took part in the Hong Kong league which ended on Tuesday, put up a stunning performance to crush a hapless Fukien side in the last match of the triple-header.
Energy sprang to a 15-0 lead in three minutes before Eldridge Hudson opened Fukien's account with a three-pointer.