The St Kilda Saints won 105-82 in a physical game against the Bombers, a rematch of last year's final, in the opening round of A grade at the Edgar Centre on Saturday.
The Saints took control in the first quarter with an 11-point lead as the Bombers struggled to hold on.
The Bombers fought back in the second and third quarters, when it was anyone's game to win, both teams shooting point-for-point.
However, the Saints proved too strong by the end of the third quarter with a lead of 10 and continued to extend their lead through the fourth quarter, to win by 23.
For the Saints, James Ross showed lightning speed and agility around the court.
He said the game was really tough and the final score did not represent how close it really was.
It was a high-contact game as both sides racked up team fouls in every quarter.
Bombers guard Jan Verberne had blitzing second and third quarters, driving to the hoop and going to the free throw line.
No statistics were available from the game.
Verberne was happy with the team's performance to start the season but said it had "a drop in intensity and took the foot off the accelerator at an important time in the match''.
In the other games, Magic thrashed Varsity B 106-47, while Varsity A beat the Falcons, 63-57.
- Henry McMullan
