Both teams look to snap losing streak as Vancouver Bandits take on Montréal Alliance

Zulfi Sheikh • Jul 16, 2023

The Vancouver Bandits (-240) host the Montréal Alliance (+165) as both squads look to snap two-game skids on Sunday at 5:00 pm local/8:00 pm ET from the Langley Events Centre.


It will be available for streaming live on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.


This will be the one and only regular season matchup between the cross-conference opponents in 2023 and is their first head-to-head since their series split from last year’s campaign.


Fans shouldn’t expect too much carryover from those contests as the two squads feature a lot of new names this time around. The dominant big man duo for Vancouver in Giorgi Benzhanishvili and Nick Ward weren’t there a year ago, and neither was Montréal’s guard-forward pairing of Ahmed Hill and Treveon Graham.


However, there will be a few returning faces from both sides to keep an eye on. There’s Alex Campbell and Malcolm Duvivier for the Bandits, both of whom averaged double figure scoring throughout the two games last year. Campbell specifically found success against the Alliance as he averaged 14 points and 4.5 rebounds in the matchup.


Meanwhile, Kemy Ossé, Alain Louis, and Nathan Cayo will all be returning for Montréal as well. Cayo had his best game of the 2022 season against Vancouver when he put up a season-high 25 points on 10-13 shooting to go with six rebounds. He found similar success in both matchups as the forward averaged 20.5 points on a stellar 76.5 per cent shooting through their two games.


Fast forward to now, and this will be the final contest of a three-game home stand where the Bandits are still looking for their first win. They’re currently riding a two-game losing streak at Langley Events Centre and have been struggling as of late, losing four of their last five in general. 


Their latest defeat of 96-91 came at the hands of the defending champion Brampton Honey Badgers this past Friday. Vancouver found themselves down as many as 20 points in that game before making a late rally that ultimately fell short of a victory. It was their poor shooting throughout the night that eventually caught up to them as the Bandits shot just 39 per cent from the field and 25 per cent from distance.


However, despite the loss, the team had some bright spots they can look to build upon. The aforementioned Duvivier put up a season-high 20 points and eight rebounds, which made it four games in a row crossing double figures.


That game also saw the league’s best rebounding team (44.3 RPG) continue their dominance on the glass as Vancouver grabbed 50 boards on the night, also going +8 on offensive rebounds. 


Fans of the Bandits hoping to get back in the win column should keep an eye on the squad’s work on the glass as it might just be their way to victory. They’ll be taking on an Alliance team that ranks second-last in the league for total (36.9 RPG) and offensive rebounds (9.3 ORPG), and with the duo of Benzhanishvili and Ward both ranking in the top-10, averaging a collective 17 boards a game, the recipe might be there.


On the other side the Alliance enter the game with their own two-game losing streak, most recently losing to the Western Conference leading Winnipeg Sea Bears in a 96-88 score. In that matchup, said rebounding struggles for Montréal hurt them all night as they were a -6 on the glass, subsequently giving up 14 offensive boards and a +9 edge on second chance points. 

 

Another area Alliance fans should like to see the team bounce back from is their weak bench production. The squad’s second unit got thoroughly outworked against the Sea Bears as only two players scored a basket off the pine for Montréal, with the bench getting outscored 29-4.


Even in the loss, the Alliance’s starting lineup – even without backup – looked impressive as four of five starters scored over double-digits. Cayo returned to his strong form to lead the way, tying his season-high of 28 points, after struggling in their previous outing with just seven. The forward’s now scored 28 points in three of his team’s last five games as the he’s been averaging 21.6 points on 58 per cent shooting during that span.


Meanwhile, Hill added in 26 points on over 40 per cent shooting from the field and beyond the arch, continuing his own hot play as of late. The team’s top-scorer is now tied for fourth in the league, averaging 20.1 points per game, and has been on a tear as the guard’s scored over 25 points in four of the team’s last six games and has been putting up 24.7 points a night during that span.


Keep an eye on the pairing as they look to use their individual success and translate that into a team victory.


With Vancouver already having secured a spot at Championship Weekend as the host city, this game won’t help their odds of getting in, but can help in terms of seeding. They are just one game back of the third place Edmonton Stingers, and if they can rattle off some wins, they could find themselves back in the mix out West.


Montréal after their back-to-back losses is now tied with Brampton at the bottom of the East. So, a win would be crucial in creating half a game of separation as the teams battle for a playoff spot in the final days of the 2023 regular season. 


All games will also be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Full list of betting props available on BetVictor.


A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 71 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball. The CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

LATEST NEWS

Vancouver Bandits and Preston Chevrolet Renew Partnership for the 2024 CEBL Season

By Bandits Staff • 03 May, 2024
The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that one of the province’s largest General Motors dealerships, Preston Chevrolet, has renewed its dedication to supporting Canadian professional basketball by extending its community and marketing partnership with the Bandits for the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Vancouver Bandits and Preston Chevrolet have been partners since the Vancouver Bandits made their debut at the Langley Events Centre in 2022. The focus of Preston Chevrolet’s partnership with BC’s professional basketball team is to contribute to the game day experience at the home venue, the Langley Events Centre (LEC), while supporting their additional community outreach programs. This support includes initiatives such as; the Community Champion program, Vancouver Bandits’ school visits, and community event attendance throughout the province powered by the Vancouver Bandits’ Community Cruiser proudly supplied by Preston Chevrolet. Since 2022, Preston Chevrolet has supported the Community Champion program where community teams from across the region have experienced Vancouver Bandits basketball in the Preston Players’ Lounge at Langley Events Centre. The community Champion program allowed hundreds of at-risk youths to get the opportunity to attend Vancouver Bandits games; an opportunity that many would not receive otherwise. With the support of Preston Chevrolet, from November 2023 to February 2024; the Vancouver Bandits head coach & general manager Kyle Julius visited 81 middle school and high schools across the province. The purpose of these visits was to support middle school and high school basketball programs with complimentary coaching and player development. “Our community partnership with the Bandits has been outstanding from the start. Both our organizations believe in the value and accessibility of sports, particularly team sports for youth and families in our communities” said Peter Heppner of Preston Chevrolet. Preston Chevrolet has been a family-owned and operated business in Langley since 1965. Purchased from the Preston family in 2006 Peter and son (Leigh Heppner) continue the long-standing commitment to supporting the communities they serve. “The moment we committed to Langley Events Centre in 2022 we were made aware of Peter Heppner and Preston Chevrolet’s commitment to giving back to the community. It was more than just marketing for Peter and Preston Chevrolet, it was about finding ways for Vancouver Bandits basketball to execute programming that provided youth in our community with accessible opportunities. Peter Heppner, Leigh Heppner, and the entire team at Preston Chevrolet have embraced Vancouver Bandits basketball with open arms, enabling us to strengthen our community and bring us together through basketball. We are excited to continue our partnership for a third consecutive season.” Bandits team president Dylan Kular said. 

Vancouver Bandits Sign Former Santa Clara Bronco Josip Vrankic

By Bandits Staff • 02 May, 2024
The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has signed 6-foot-9 forward and former Santa Clara University Bronco Josip Vrankic for its upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC). A native of Toronto, Ont., Josip is currently playing for Gipuzkoa in the LEB Oro, the second highest division of professional basketball in Spain, which as a nation boasts the second best national team FIBA ranking in the world behind the United States. The 2023-24 campaign in progress is Vrankic’s second professional season after playing five decorated seasons of NCAA Division I basketball at Santa Clara between 2017-22, the alma mater of Victoria, B.C. product and NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash. Vrankic will report to Vancouver upon the conclusion of his current season in Spain. "I am excited to join the Bandits family and to be part of a group that is focused on winning and growing together. I have heard great things about the fanbase in Vancouver and I am looking forward to a special season," Vrankic said. Vancouver’s highly anticipated home opener is on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. PT against the Montréal Alliance. Single game tickets for the home opener and all regular season games are on sale now at this link . Vrankic is enjoying another solid season early in his professional career; posting averages of 22.4 minutes, 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game on 34.4 per cent shooting from three-point range over the course of 32 games played with Gipuzkoa. Last year he made his pro debut with Chieti, where he placed first on the club in rebounds (8.0) and second in points per game (14.9) in 17 games played before signing with Ravenna to finish the 2022-23 season. Prior to turning pro, Vrankic appeared in 137 games for the Broncos, starting 131 – a program record. His 1,817 career points place him third in school history while his 801 rebounds place him eighth. Vrankic punctuated his illustrious Division I career by earning four consecutive West Coast Conference (WCC) selections; including back-to-back first team recognition in 2021 and 2022. “Josip is a very high IQ basketball player with great versatility. He can really shoot and play inside. We think he is a great fit for our group and we really look forward to him becoming part of our family,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. Vancouver will play a total of 10 regular season home games in 2024 between Thursday, May 23 and Thursday, July 18. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road against Montréal on Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m. PT. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). Individuals interested in ticket flexibility or purchasing a bundle of tickets are invited to consider a flex pack or season tickets . More information can be found at thebandits.ca/tickets or by speaking with a Bandits representative by calling (604) 455-8881 or emailing 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 .

Vancouver Bandits and FortisBC Renew Partnership for the 2024 CEBL Season

By Bandits Staff • 30 Apr, 2024
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World-renowned Recording Artist Sharry Mann to Perform at Vancouver Bandits June 1st South Asian Heritage Game

By Bandits Staff • 30 Apr, 2024
The Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday that internationally celebrated vocalist and actor Sharry Mann will perform at Langley Events Centre (LEC) on Saturday, June 1 when the Bandits host the visiting Calgary Surge for the club’s first-ever South Asian Heritage Game. Exclusive to ticketholders for the Bandits’ game day, Mann will delight Bandits fans in attendance with two performances on June 1st; including a pre-game concert in the arena bowl and a half-time show during the intermission between the second and third quarters of gameplay. Fans in attendance are kindly encouraged to arrive prior to 7 p.m. PT to ensure that they have time to find parking (free on-site at LEC) and locate their seats before Mann’s performance, which will be shortly after the top of the hour before the Bandits and Surge tip-off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for Mann’s highly anticipated concert; which is included in the cost of a Bandits game ticket, are on sale now at this link . Admission to the concert and game are combined and start at $27.50 per ticket. All ticket prices are inclusive of taxes and fees. A world-renowned artist famous for his appearances and chart-topping hits in Punjabi music and film, Mann has amassed hundreds of millions of plays on YouTube and Spotify ; including tracks such as ‘3 Peg’ (800+ million plays on YouTube, 50+ million Spotify streams) and Hostel (250+ million plays on YouTube, 13+ million Spotify streams). Mann’s success has paved the way for the talented artist to be recognized globally. Recent recognition includes winning best music video at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards for ‘Yaar Chadeya’ in 2019, as well as having various tracks appear in the Top 40 of the Britain’s Official Charts . The June 1st Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) match-up between Vancouver and Calgary will be the first time that the Western Conference foes have met since Calgary inched past Vancouver in last year’s Western Conference Finals. Adding to the game’s excitement is the debut of the Bandits’ South Asian Heritage jersey, designed by Sandeep Johal to be worn by Vancouver at the game to honour and celebrate the culture and artistry of South Asia. “I am thrilled to welcome Sharry Mann and his management to Langley Events Centre for what will surely be one of the most exciting games of the 2024 CEBL season. Fans in attendance will be treated to two awesome musical performances courtesy of Sharry as well as a must-watch rematch against our rivals from Calgary,” said Bandits team president Dylan Kular. Vancouver will play a total of 10 regular season home games in 2024 between Thursday, May 23 and Thursday, July 18. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road against Montréal on Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m. PT. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). Individuals interested in ticket flexibility or purchasing a bundle of tickets are invited to consider a flex pack or season tickets . More information can be found at thebandits.ca/tickets or by speaking with a Bandits representative by calling (604) 455-8881 or emailing 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 .

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By Bandits Staff • 03 Dec, 2023
A provincial education seminar co-hosted by Basketball BC and Vancouver Bandits professional basketball club. Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius, Trinity Western Spartans women’s basketball head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul and U SPORTS/CEBL official Trevor West provide their insights on the question, “How does your familiarity with an official affect how you interact with officials during the game?” Click here to watch question 3 .
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