The Men’s Basketball League kicked off with a round of five matches.
The reigning Finnish champion BC Nokia faced last season’s bronze team Kauhajoki Karhu Basket in the opening round. The people of Nokia were able to open the regular season in their new home hall, on the roof of which a fresh championship pennant was raised before the toss.
The match progressed evenly, but in the third period, Kauhajoki ran away and led at best with 11 points. The people of Nokia tuned in for the end, but at best they only managed to come within three points.
Kauhajoki finally took the opening victory with 79–71 points. Kaden Anderson and Joseph Toussaint each scored 17 points for the visiting team. BC Nokian was rehabilitated as the most efficient Xavier Greenwho scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
In Helsinki, the silver team Seagulls hosted Salon Vilpa. The opening quarter was controlled by Vilppaa, but the Helsinki team took the next three periods and won the match 94–85. The home team succeeded on a wide front, as six players scored double-digit points.
Captain of the Seagulls Rene Rougeau had 18 points and seven rebounds. Lassi Nikkarinen on the other hand, had a double-double for the home team, finishing with 14 points and 15 assists. Vilppaa excelled as the best basket maker Amen Adamu with 21 points. Only 17 years old Samu Adler scored 20 points in his Korisliiga debut.
In the other matches of the evening, the visiting teams won. Kouvot of Kouvola took the points from Korikobri of Lapua 89–76, Bisons Loimaa bowed to Korihai of Uusikaupunki 74–86, and Kataja of Joensuu crushed Pyrinnö of Tampere 100–66.