CAMPBELL LEADS THE BANDITS TO VICTORY AGAINST RATTLERS
By CEBL Writer: Justine Jones • June 27, 2021
ABBOTSFORD, B.C., June 26, 2021 – Alex Campbell dazzled in his debut for the Fraser Valley Bandits (1-0), tallying 25 points on 57 per cent shooting to lead his new team to a 92-74 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Saturday night at the Abbotsford Centre.
Campbell, a former Rattler, was instrumental in the Saskatchewan’s title run in 2019, winning the CEBL Finals MVP. On Saturday night, he came off the bench for the Bandits and made an immediate impact.
Alongside another former Rattler in Shaquille Keith, the two led the charge erasing a nine- point deficit in the second quarter. The Bandits bench outscored the Rattlers 43-16 and Campbell capped it off with a buzzer-beater corner three-pointer that gave Fraser Valley a five point lead (38-33) heading into the half.
“The chemistry was there since the first day of training camp, the coaching staff did a great job of integrating us,” said Campbell. “The chemistry comes easy when you have a bunch of like-minded guys.”
“The way they built this team we can go one through ten. I have trust in the coaching staff and there’s a method to the madness and I’m going to play my role,” said Campbell.
The six-foot-two guard brings a championship pedigree and veteran experience to the Valley and head coach David Singleton was unsurprised at his smooth transition into their culture. Campbell plays with a chip on his shoulder, a philosophy the Fraser Valley Bandits became known for during their remarkable run to the CEBL finals last season.
“He’s as hard a worker as I’ve seen and I think he’s fitting in well,” said Singleton. “Right now, we have him in the sixth man role and a lot of people wouldn’t accept that role at his level, but he’s humble and he understands. I think he worked that position well today and he’s only going to grow and grow from here.”
Brandon Gilbeck was another pivotal piece for the Bandits in their opening night victory. The seven-foot centre ran the floor well and was impactful on both the offensive and defensive ends. Gilbeck netted 17 points, six rebounds and his emphatic dunk was the Elam Ending winner that sealed the victory for the Bandits.
“We want to get him the ball, he’s a big part of the team that’s why we brought him here. He’s the biggest player in the league and I think we can even do a better job at getting him the ball as a coaching staff,” said Singleton. “He’s a big point in the offence and from here you’ll see him get more touches as we go.”
Saskatchewan was ready to play right from the tip off, showing off sharp shooting from beyond the arc. The Rattlers opened up a nine point lead after the first quarter thanks to going five for nine and shooting 55 per cent from three-point range. Head coach Chad Jacobson was also encouraged by the Rattlers’ first quarter defensive which allowed the team to get steals and make transition three-pointers.
“Anytime you have a setback there’s an opportunity to learn from it and to grow and get better,” said Jacobson. “It’s a long season, we have 13 more games so we definitely need to be better and clean things up, but we can’t hit the panic button after one game.”
Off-season acquisition JaKeenan Gant was a bright spot for the Rattlers, leading the way with 25 points. Gant will play a large role for Saskatchewan for the duration of the season on both the offensive and defensive ends. In a year where playing opportunities have been limited due to COVID-19, the two-time Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year is excited for what is to come this season.
“It’s been a great chance to play and get out and travel, I’m happy to be in Canada,” said Gant.
The Saskatchewan Rattlers will look for their first win when they host the Hamilton Honey Badgers (0-1) on Monday June 28 at 8:30pm ET/ 7:30 p.m. local time.
Fraser Valley will continue their season at home against the Niagara River Lions (1-0) on Tuesday June 29 at 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. local time.
All CEBL games will be available for live streaming on the CEBL’s new OTT streaming service, CEBL+, cbcsports.ca, the free CBC Gem streaming service, the CBC Sports App for iOS and android devices, and on Twitch.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 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 typically runs from May through August. More information about the Bandits is available at thebandits.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Savory, Director of Operations, (604) 217-6213, asavory@thebandits.ca
About the Fraser Valley Bandits:
The Fraser Valley Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the club is proud to call Abbotsford Centre home. The Bandits offer a riveting 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. PerfectLens, a Vancouver-based contact lens supplier, is the official presenting partner of the Bandits’ 2021 season. Head to thebandits.ca for more information.
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