Bandits Ride Double-Double from Maffia to Earn Home Opener Victory

LANGLEY, BC, June 3, 2023 – It was a triumphant return to Langley Events Centre for Diego Maffia. 

The former Oak Bay Secondary star has played his fair share of games at Langley Events Centre and made countless baskets during his storied high school career when the Victoria school competed at the provincial high school championships.

On Saturday night – in his first professional game in his home province – Maffia went to the line and calmly sank his free throw to send the Vancouver Bandits to an 84-81 victory over the Calgary Surge in Canadian Elite Basketball League action. The Bandits were ahead 75-73 when the Target Score was triggered with 3:13 to play in the fourth quarter, setting the target at 84.

Drafted and signed as a U SPORTS Development Athlete, Maffia’s expectations for this summer have been to come in and learn from his professional teammates and then take it back to the University of Victoria, where he plays for the Vikes.

Through the first two games of the CEBL season, Maffia has seen a grand total of 21:54 of court time with three points, four rebounds and three assists. Prior to tip-off, Maffia found out he was in the starting five and the decision proved to be correct as he finished with a double-double of 15 points and 11 assists, as well as four rebounds in 31:06 of court time.

One of those rebounds came on the defensive end of the floor after the Surge missed back-to-back three-point attempts which would have won the game. Following the second miss, Maffia was fouled, sending him to the free throw line for two shots. He only needed one for the win, which he calmly delivered.

“We played together and stayed tight; even when we were down and we rallied,” he said. “That was our main thing: stay the course. That was written all over the board: stay the course.”

“Every time I step on the floor, I am just so competitive, I will play all 40 if I need to,” Maffia said. “My mindset was always positive, even when I wasn’t playing. I knew what I had to do. I stayed positive and my mindset was in the right place, which probably allowed me to do this today.”

“Diego’s IQ and poise is off the charts. He is special. You watch this young man play out there like a grown man. Diego Maffia has been coached properly growing up; he has been raised properly, the right way; he has poise, he has confidence; very, very high IQ,” said Vancouver general manager and head coach Kyle Julius.

The win was the first on the season for the Bandits (1-2) while the loss was the first defeat in four games for the Surge (3-1).

Early on it looked like Vancouver’s struggles to start the season would continue as they were held to 10 first-quarter points and trailed by a dozen points early in the second period. But the Bandits broke out of their offensive slump, finally connecting from beyond the arc to sink four triples, as they went from 10 first-quarter points to 31 in the next 10 minutes, ending the first half down 43-41.

“We haven’t shot the ball very well, right from the first possession of that very first game. That lulls you, it pulls you down. We play off our energy and sometimes when you are not making shots, it is tough,” Julius said, adding the team used the confidence gained in the second quarter.

Vancouver used a balanced offensive attack in the victory with five players reaching double figures, led by Nick Ward’s 19 points and nine rebounds. Giorgi Benzhanishvili added 17 points and eight rebounds, Malcolm Duvivier added 14 and Derek Brown Jr. – signed to the team ahead of the game – chipped in a dozen. Admon Gilder Jr. and Simi Shittu each scored 17 while Trevon Scott added 11 to lead Calgary.

“We were able to get stops and get runs in transition and able to score. They did a good job of going inside and that kind of slowed the game down and gave them some advantages,” said Surge coach Nelson Terroba.

“I think at the end we were able to find some solutions to what they were doing, but by that time that happened, they had already gotten the benefits. But give them credit, good job by the Bandits.”

The game was emotional with Ward and the Surge’s Gilder Jr. twice having to be separated in the second half. Julius was pleased with his team’s effort and emotion.



“We talk about toughness, of being the aggressor. I was extremely disappointed with our effort in those first two games. Tactics, x’s and o’s is one thing, but I did not think we fought. Today, we fought. This is what we have to build on, this type of grit and energy,” he said. 

The coach also alluded to the fact his squad was able to capitalize on the riveting atmosphere created by the sell-out crowd at Langley Events Centre.

Notes:

Maffia was buoyed by the fact his mom and some friends were able to watch the game, while also pointing out he was disappointed some of his Vikes teammates canceled their plans to take the ferry and attend the game.

“I just want to say that, just so they know,” he said.  “But My mom was here and I couldn’t ask for anyone else to be here for my first (home) game, my first start in the CEBL. I went over there and got a hug.”

Vancouver’s next game of its two-game home stand is Tuesday, June 6 at 11 a.m. PT against the Winnipeg Sea Bears for its second annual School Day Game presented by Sentinel Storage.

Single game tickets for the highly anticipated fifth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase at this link.

A key highlight of Vancouver’s fifth CEBL campaign will be its hosting of Championship Weekend, which takes place between Friday, August 11 and Sunday, August 13. An annual celebration of the highest level of Canadian professional basketball, Championship Weekend features a postseason format that combines three games of playoff basketball as part of a multi-day festival experience designed to celebrate the intersection of arts, culture and sport. As hosts of Championship Weekend, the Bandits receive an automatic semifinal berth.

Individuals interested in learning more about tickets for the Vancouver Bandits’ 2023 season are kindly asked to call (604) 455-8881 or email tickets@thebandits.ca. A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here.

More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.