Basketball On The Internet.

STORM pair Ezi Magbegor and Steph Talbot have led the Opals to a 92-88 practice match win over France in the lead up to next week's FIBA World Cup in Sydney while in Darwin, the defending Loggins-Bruton Cup champion Adelaide 36ers have opened with a victory over South East Melbourne.

Magbegor and Talbot, who arrived late into the Opals program after their Seattle Storm went deep into the WNBA semi finals against Las Vegas Aces, scored 18 points apiece.

However very few conclusions should be drawn from the result considering Australia opens its Cup campaign against France on Thursday.

In DARWIN. the quest for the NBL's "holy grail" - the mystical Loggins-Bruton Cup - opened tonight with the 36ers beating a depleted Phoenix 84-76.

Craig Randall showed much of his scoring repertoire and Mitch McCarron also showcased some sizzling moments as Adelaide fulfilled expectations with a solid Blitz win, leading by as many as 22 points.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 84 (Randall 16, McCarron, Cleveland 12, Marshall 11; McCarron 8 rebs; McCarron 5 assts) d SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 76 (Adnam 19, Williams 13, Madut 11, Browne 10; Williams 7 rebs; Adnam 4 assts).

TOMORROW: Tasmania v Sydney; Perth v Cairns.

SUNDAY: Brisbane v New Zealand; Illawarra v Melbourne.