BANDITS DEFENCE AT HOME COULD BE KEY TO QUARTERFINAL SUCCESS
By: Matthew Winick • August 15, 2021
A team on a roll or homecourt advantage, something has to give on Sunday.
Winners of three of their last four games, the Guelph Nighthawks are hoping momentum and some high-flying guards help punch a ticket to Edmonton and their first CEBL Championship Weekend appearance in franchise history. The fourth-seeded Fraser Valley Bandits will host the quarterfinal game Sunday afternoon (4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT, live on CBC TV) against Guelph with the final berth to the big weekend on the line.
After a midseason struggle, Fraser Valley will look to their success at home and a raucous Abbotsford Centre crowd to continue their championship drive. A 5-2 record in their home venue, the Bandits are a significantly better team when sleeping in their own beds – on the defensive side of the ball.
The difference between Fraser Valley’s offence at home compared to on the road is negligible. We’re talking just two points per game better in Abbotsford. Even their shooting accuracy from the field and the line are indifferent to location.
Bandits’ opponents? That’s a different story.
When visiting Fraser Valley, opponents average just 78.1 points compared to 90.6 points when they are in their own building. They also tally significantly fewer three pointers, rebounds, and assists when playing at the Abbotsford Centre. The Bandits really have created a advantage.
Kenny is the Man
Kenny Manigault has been on fire as of late. Coming into the quarterfinals, Manigault has averaged 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 9.7 assists in his last three games. He put together a solid performance during the win against the Nighthawks as well when he registered 14 points, five rebounds and six assists. If he continues his strong play, Guelph will certainly have their hands full.
Dynamic Duo
You would be hard pressed to find another pair of guards in the CEBL who have taken such a heavy load of its team’s offence than Cat Barber and Ahmed Hill from the Royal City. The tandem accounted for 41 per cent of Guelph’s scoring and an equal amount of the team’s assists. The Nighthawks were the only squad in the CEBL to have two players rank in the top five in scoring. Barber (18.1 ppg) finished third, while Hill finished fifth (17.5 ppg). However, during the only meeting against Fraser Valley this season, the Bandits held the dynamic duo to a combined 26 points, six rebounds and seven assists, in addition to eight turnovers and a .314 (11-35) shooting mark from the field.
A hard fall midway through the Nighthawks’ August 4 game in Ottawa forced Barber out of the lineup for the season finale against the BlackJacks two days later. Fans are hoping a week of rest for their leading scorer will be enough to return Barber to form.
In order for Guelph to book its ticket to the CEBL Championship Weekend, the Nighthawks will need Barber and Hill at their best - share the ball and be their explosive self.
New-Look Lall
If there was a most improved player award in the CEBL, Nighthawks forward T.J. Lall would certainly be under consideration. The six-foot-six forward from Cambridge, Ontario made a significant physical makeover in the offseason. Lall was a backup player for the Ottawa BlackJacks during the 2020 CEBL Summer Series but a focus on nutrition and strength training saw him return to the league 40-pounds lighter, significantly stronger, and with the addition of a decent outside shot to his game. The results have been rewarding. Lall leads the list of current Nighthawks in rebounding (4.6 rpg), and steals (0.9), while listing second in field goal percentage (.518).
In the final five games of the season in which Guelph won three times to secure the fifth seed, Lall averaged 9.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and logged more than 30 minutes in each game. Look for him to be an X-Factor in the quarterfinal game against Fraser Valley.
Last Meeting
In their only meeting this season, the Bandits handled Guelph convincingly in a 92-71 rout on July 14. Bandits guard Malcolm Duvivier led all scorers with 20 points, including five triples in just 24 minutes, despite starting on the bench. The Nighthawks led, 24-23, after the first quarter but ran out of gas, producing just 47 points the rest of the night.
What’s on the Line?
Unless there is a major upset in Saturday’s first game between (3) Hamilton and (6) Ottawa, the winner from this Bandits versus Nighthawks playoff tilt will play the top-seeded host Stingers as part of semifinal Friday.
Championship Weekend Schedule
Semifinals: Friday, August 20, 2021
No. 2 Niagara River Lions vs. Higher Seeded Quarterfinal Winner (7 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. MT)
No. 1 Edmonton Stingers vs. Lower Seeded Quarterfinal Winner (9 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. MT)
Championship Game: Sunday, August 22, 2021
Semifinal Winner 1 vs. Semifinal Winner 2 (4 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. MT)
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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
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on July 25, 2025.
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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Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on July 25, 2025.
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Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on June 22, 2025.