Bandits Clinch Semifinal Berth with Decisive Win Against Guelph
August 6, 2020
ST. CATHARINES, ON, August 5, 2020 – The Fraser Valley Bandits are advancing straight to the CEBL Summer Series semifinals after defeating the Guelph Nighthawks, 84-70, Wednesday evening. With the win, Fraser Valley closes the round robin with a 4-2 record and earns the second seed in the Series playoffs. Guelph finishes 3-3, tied with Hamilton and Ottawa but by virtue of the tie-breaker formula lands in the fifth seeded slot.
Jahenns Manigat scored a game-high 20 points off the bench to lead the Bandits. The sharpshooter came off the bench to lead the second unit with timely baskets, cashing in with six three-pointers and collecting four rebounds and four steals.
Four players scored in double digits for the Nighthawks, led by Kimbal Mackenzie with 12 points to go along with three assists.
It was clear from the game’s onset that both teams were dialed in defensively. Fraser Valley and Guelph shot just 31 and 21 percent, respectively, from the field in the first quarter. The Bandits led by five points after the first frame, but the Nighthawks caught fire in the second and dropped 33 points on Fraser Valley, due in large part to Guelph’s accuracy from three-point range. Tyrell Green and Myles Charvis entered halftime with two threes each. The Bandits managed to shoot just 4-of-14 from long distance in the opening half, which allowed Guelph’s defenders to clog the paint and prevent Fraser Valley from getting to the rim.
Despite an emphatic one-handed jam from Olu Ashaolu in the second quarter, the Bandits entered the half down seven points as Fraser Valley struggled to contain Guelph’s drive and kick action.
“We didn’t hit our assignments, so we wanted to keep the conversation about our original game plan,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “The guys came out in the second half and really changed the game with defence and then from there we got some fastbreak points, which we weren’t getting in the first half.”
The Bandits got off to a hot start in the second half behind pinpoint shooting from Manigat. Two quick triples from Manigat brought the Bandits to within one before a dime from Klassen to Ashaolu gave the Bandits their first lead since the first quarter. Fraser Valley outscored Guelph 22-7 in the third, but former Bandit Joel Friesen connected on a half-court heave to bring the Nighthawks to within five points entering the fourth.
Friesen’s end of quarter prayer set the stage for an exciting fourth quarter. Veteran Olu Famutimi scored a quick lay-up in transition to bring Guelph to within three, but the Bandits had an answer for the Nighthawks’ final push.
Fraser Valley outscored Guelph 9-4 during the Elam Ending to put the finishing touches on what was otherwise a close game. With the game on the line, Malcolm Duvivier stepped into a three-pointer to seal the game and punch the Bandits’ ticket to the team’s first-ever semifinal berth.
The Bandits won’t play until Saturday and will receive some much-needed rest.
“Coach Julius makes sure that we’re always locked in and that we don’t take anything for granted, and that’s the approach we need to take for the rest of the tournament,” Cadougan said.
As a result of the loss, the Nighthawks will have to overcome a tight turnaround and be ready for day one of the playoffs, which begin Thursday. Guelph finishes fifth in the standings and will take on Ottawa at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fraser Valley awaits the highest advancing seed from Thursday’s quarterfinal action.
“We just need to be more physical,” Nighthawks head coach and general manager Charles Kissi said. “I feel like all the teams we’ve struggled with, they were just far more physical with us and I think that’s something we have to do. We can’t get caught up in anything other than just doing our jobs.”
All CEBL Summer Series games are livestreamed on Twitch, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem App. A complete broadcast schedule can be found here.
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The Vancouver Bandits are set to close out the 2025 CEBL regular season with a bang. As part of Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday, August 3rd, Bandits guard and social media sensation Tristan Jass returns to Langley Events Centre for the Tristan Jass $10,000 Halfcourt Shootout . Four lucky fans in attendance will be randomly selected to participate in the competition at halftime against Jass. The last shooter standing takes home $10,000. Event Format: Four fans are drawn from the crowd in the first half. At halftime, each fan takes a shot from halfcourt, followed by Tristan Jass to end the round. If no one scores, they go again. If one person hits, they win the cash. If multiple fans hit, only those who made it advance to the next round. Repeat until one winner remains. Entry Rules: Must be in attendance and hold a valid ticket. If your seat is drawn, you can shoot or nominate someone from your ticket group. All participants must sign a media release waiver before participating. The Bandits, who clinched a playoff berth on July 13 , host the Winnipeg Sea Bears in a tight race for playoff positioning. Fans can expect a sellout crowd with post-season implications on the line, marking one of the most crucial matchups of the season. The Tristan Jass $10,000 Halfcourt Shootout is one of the many additions to what is shaping up to be the Bandits’ most electric night of the year. Pre-game activities begin with the Bandits Backyard BBQ starting at 3 p.m. outside Langley Events Centre , featuring $1 hot dogs, live music, an inflatable kids play area, a sign making station and a beer garden for fans 19 and over. Tip-off takes place at 5 p.m. and single game tickets are available for purchase by following this link . Jass, who appeared in two preseason games for the Bandits on May 8 and 10 respectively, has been placed on the Bandits’ Suspended List since July 1, 2025 as a result of the CEBL’s Import player limitations, restricting clubs to a maximum of four Import (non-Canadian) players on an Active Roster at a time. His “ YouTuber to Pro Hooper ” web series, documenting his day-to-day experience playing with the club, has garnered over 1.2 million views on YouTube. ### For Vancouver Bandits media inquiries, please contact: Senior Manager, Brand & Communications, Justin Sulpico, media@thebandits.ca , 604-626-8513 About Vancouver Bandits The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Langley Events Centre (LEC).  About the CEBL: A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .
A few friendly bounces at the rim made all the difference for the Calgary Surge in a tense battle against rival Vancouver on Friday night (July 25). With the game on the line in Target Score Time at WinSport Events Centre, Calgary guard Evan Gilyard Jr. launched a deep three that rattled in after a few tense moments. It was Gilyard’s first triple of the game, but it lifted the Surge past the Bandits 98-96. The Surge have now swept the regular season series against the top-ranked Bandits, with both teams already locked into playoff spots in the Western Conference. The intensity of Friday’s contest mimicked a postseason showdown. Calgary head coach Kaleb Canales said the group executed the game plan on both ends of the floor with togetherness and championship poise. “We felt we had a great week of practice. We knew this was a heavyweight fight. We have a lot of respect for that team but I love our team and I love our squad and I love where we’re at,” Canales said. Both teams saw the return of NBA Summer League talent, with Vancouver’s Tyrese Samuel and Calgary’s Jameer Nelson Jr. making an impact after their time in Las Vegas. Nelson Jr. netted 21 points, including 15 in the first half, while tallying six rebounds, six assists and four steals. “[Jameer] was playing both ends at an … elite level. We absolutely love him and he was making plays when it was time to make plays,” Canales said. Sean Miller-Moore and Greg Brown III also had standout performances in the win. Miller-Moore dropped a game-high 27 points and hauled in eight rebounds, while Brown III notched a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double. Meanwhile, Samuel finished with a team-high 26 points for Vancouver on 12-15 shooting. He said he could’ve done better on the boards, but was happy with his return to the lineup overall. “It feels good to be back out there with the guys. Obviously, today wasn't the result we wanted but we're just gonna go back to the drawing board and just be ready for the playoffs,” Samuel said. Aussie big man Mitch Creek was also a force in the frontcourt with 25 points and 13 rebounds in the loss, while Kyle Mangas added 12 off the bench in his second game back from NBA Summer League. After three consecutive games with at least 15 threes, the Bandits cooled down on Friday with eight from long range at a 29 per cent clip. Calgary also capitalized on 18 Vancouver turnovers with 25 points. “Some turnovers and giving them some easy offensive rebounds I think was part of the problem for sure,” Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius said. The range of talent for both squads was on full display in the early stages of the game. The Bandits and Surge each started hot before the pace slowed. A catch-and-shoot triple from Corey Davis Jr. gave the Bandits their first lead at 16-14, and they stayed ahead 25-22 after 10 minutes. Vancouver extended its lead to nine in the second quarter following inside finishes from Creek, Zach Copeland, Samuel and a three from Davis Jr. However, Nelson Jr. willed the Surge back into the game with 11 points in the quarter. He showed off his complete game as well, stealing the rock on defence before dishing to Brown III in transition for a massive slam. After trailing for the entire second quarter, Calgary tied it up heading into the locker room with a buzzer-beating putback from Javonté Brown. Miller-Moore regained the lead for the Surge to kick off the third quarter with a transition dunk. Calgary locked in defensively for the remainder of the frame, limiting the high-powered Bandits' offence to just 18 points. Brown III added to his highlight reel late in the quarter, spinning for a left-handed dunk on Kur Jongkuch that put him on the free throw line as well. Down four points entering the final quarter, Creek and Samuel went to work inside for Vancouver. The frontcourt duo combined for 17 points before Target Score Time to knot the game at 87, but Brown III finished a putback to give Calgary a two-point advantage heading into the final stretch. The bigs continued to duel in Target Score Time, with Samuel opening the scoring before Brown III showed his versatility, connecting on back-to-back threes and rejecting Creek on the other end. Calgary missed multiple shots for the win, and Samuel added another layup before fouling out. A putback from Creek vaulted Vancouver back in front at 96-95, putting both teams a bucket away from victory. On the following possession, Gilyard did his best Kawhi Leonard impression to win the game with a deep three that needed multiple bounces before dropping. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600650
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The Vancouver Bandits have announced today the following roster update in advance of its Friday, July 25 away game against the Calgary Surge at 7:00 p.m. PT: F Tyrese Samuel has been removed from the Suspended List and added to the Club's active roster; he will be available for tonight's game. G Izaiah Brockington and G Tristan Jass remain on the Club's Suspended List.
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