Coach Kannemeyer’s 3 Keys vs. EDM - August 4
By: Cassidy Kannemeyer • August 5, 2021
Here are Coach Kannemeyer's 3 Keys to the Game:
Passing, Passing, Passing
After two straight losses to the league leading Edmonton Stingers at home last week, the Bandits have to do some serious soul searching to reclaim their offensive identity.
Losing Marek Klassen several weeks ago has had a lasting impact on the roster with only four games left. Still the leader in assists for the team, Klassen had the ability to identify the hot hand, reward the bigs for strong defensive play and knew when to create his own shot. Klassen was the floor general that the current Bandits desperately need to get back to their winning ways.
The guard play needs to get better, the passing needs to be sharper and the team needs to execute in transition at a much higher clip to get back to get those momentum buckets that help spark offensive runs. The team has struggled mightily to score in odd man scenarios and I feel that this burden falls on Alex Campbell, Malcolm Duvivier and Shaquille Keith. Keith especially needs to see the tape. Because the hulking forward is one of the Bandits' best scorers, the ball is in his hands often. And as teams load up to stop Keith from getting to the rim, the forward needs to find his teammates and share the ball when the situation calls for it. With more of the burden falling on his shoulders, Keith could make even more of an impact offensively if he can begin to make better reads in both the half court and in transition.
How to Stop Xavier Moon?
The two time MVP completely dominated the two game series in Abbotsford last week. Moon was able to orchestrate in transition, in the half court and conducted the Stingers' offence with little resistance -- none of it had to do with a lack of effort. The Bandits have played hard on defence all season, but allowed Moon to find his rhythm whenever he needed a bucket against the team's pick and roll coverage. Over and over again, the Stingers got their shot when they needed a score because of Moon’s tremendous offensive talent.
The Bandits for the majority of defensive sequences against the Stingers' pick and roll played drop coverage. This means that the man guarding the ball is forcing their matchup to use the screen or not get screened at all. The defensive big man drops to the free throw line and protects the rim. As the ball handler gets over the screen, he has a defender chasing from behind and a big man staring him right in the face. More often than not this forces the offensive player to take a long contested two-point shot.
Moon is the one player in the league that can destroy this coverage with his devastating shot off the dribble. He was manipulating the screen so well in their last matchup that he was able to take lightly contested off the dribble threes, which in theory is a low percentage shot. I expect the Bandits to adjust for this two game set against Edmonton. We could see less Brandon Gilbeck in the second and fourth quarter allowing the team to switch onto Moon to take away this shot. We might also see the team try and trap Moon off the pick and roll occasionally to help take away his rhythm. Whatever the team chooses to do, I expect them to change their coverage throughout the game to try and disrupt the tremendous rhythm all the Stingers are playing with offensively.
Grit and Grind
The margin for winning for the Bandits is such a fine line. Three of the team's five losses have come by single digits.
However when the Stingers did miss, it seemed more often than not, that they were quicker to the loose balls than the Bandits. Who on the Bandits is best suited to go through the proverbial wall for his teammates? Gilbeck is often preoccupied boxing out and Ryan Ejim does not play enough minutes to make that type of impact when it matters in clutch time in the fourth quarter. A guard has to take on this role. The floor dives, the charge taker, flying into the crowd for no other reason to spark their teammates. This level of hustle is infectious and it might just take one desperate act to get this team going.
I’m going to nominate Kenny Manigault for this assignment on Wednesday, not because he’s the best at it but I think it might spark him and get him going on both sides of the court. Manigault is the team's smoothest athlete and is clearly a great leader. If he can kick it into high gear with hustle plays, adding to an already solid offensive repertoire, Manigault could propel himself to becoming one of the best import players in the league. More importantly get the Bandits back in the win column Wednesday night in Edmonton.
LATEST NEWS
Vancouver Bandits guard Kyle Mangas has signed a two-way contract to join the San Antonio Spurs. The news was announced Saturday by the NBA G League on social media. Mangas was a key member of the Bandits’ best season in franchise history as the club amassed a 19-5 record. During the 2025 summer campaign, Mangas finished top five in points (15.3), rebounds (4.6), assists (3.3) and steals (1.3). His stellar performance earned him a call up to the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA Summer League squad in July 2025. At the conclusion of the 2025 CEBL season, Mangas suited up for San Antonio’s NBA G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, dressing in 10 games. Mangas becomes the third player to sign an NBA two-way contract after playing for the Bandits; the most from any Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) franchise (2023: DJ Steward - Chicago Bulls, 2024: Tazé Moore - Portland Trail Blazers). Mangas is one of two Bandits players to have signed with an NBA organization in 2025-26. Tyrese Samuel signed an Exhibit 10 contract in September 2025 and is working his way towards a two-way contract. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter . Fans interested in learning more are kindly invited to subscribe to Bandits Insider for updates or contact the Bandits at 604-455-8881 or tickets@thebandits.ca.
The Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) have teamed up with Envision Financial , a division of First West Credit Union, in a groundbreaking partnership that redefines the fan experience and deepens community connections. Under this multi-faceted agreement, the Bandits’ home court at Langley Events Centre will officially be known as “Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre.” This move marks a significant milestone in the Bandits’ growth and underscores Envision Financial’s deep commitment to the communities of British Columbia. The relationship extends well beyond venue naming, aligning both organizations around culture, youth development, and community engagement. “This partnership with Envision Financial represents an investment in the long-term growth of basketball in British Columbia,” said Dylan Kular, President of the Vancouver Bandits. “Their values align deeply with our commitment to community, accessibility, and creating meaningful experiences for families across British Columbia.” Beyond the naming rights, the partnership delivers impact: Heritage Series: Co-presented by Envision Financial, these marquee game nights will honour Indigenous, South Asian and Filipino communities, creating vibrant cultural celebrations for fans. School Tour: Envision Financial joins the Bandits Community Foundation to expand youth leadership and basketball education. Last season, the program visited 77 schools and hosted 12 free coaches’ clinics. “Partnering with the Vancouver Bandits is about creating something meaningful together, " says Tamara Hendsbee, President at Envision Financial. “By bringing culture and sport to the forefront, we can help communities flourish and open doors for youth to learn and grow. Naming the court is just the beginning; through the Heritage Series and School Tour, we’re proud to work alongside the Bandits to deliver experiences that unite fans and build stronger communities across British Columbia.” This upcoming season the Bandits will carry forward this strategic collaboration with Envision Financial as a cornerstone of their game-day identity, cultural engagement and community legacy.
Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular has been named a recipient of a 2025 B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Annual Award, announced by the Government of B.C. on Tuesday. The annual awards celebrate people and organizations that demonstrate leadership in promoting multiculturalism, anti-racism and intercultural understanding. Nearly 50 people and organizations were nominated for 2025 awards, recognizing contributions to building inclusive communities. In addition to Kular, three people and one organization are also receiving the B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Awards for their exceptional efforts to fight racism and promote inclusion in British Columbia. “These award recipients exemplify the values of inclusion and respect that strengthen our province,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “Their leadership and creativity are inspiring. I am proud to honour their exceptional efforts to break down barriers, foster inclusion and build stronger, more equitable communities across British Columbia.” Kular was named a recipient of the “Breaking Barriers” award, which recognizes individuals and organizations for their work in tackling systemic or institutional racism and reducing barriers for marginalized communities. “It is an honour to receive this recognition from the Government of B.C . This award truly reflects the collective efforts of our entire organization,” said Kular. “Our team ownership group provides the leadership that empowers our organization to build and foster meaningful change. The Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation are committed to continue breaking barriers and connecting communities across B.C. through the sport of basketball.” Under Kular’s leadership in 2025, which saw him earn CEBL Executive of the Year honours for a league-record third time, the Vancouver Bandits led efforts in building inclusive communities through sports and partnerships with Indigenous organizations and diverse populations across the province. Through partnerships and initiatives through the Bandits Community Foundation , such as the Indigenous Basketball Collective , in collaboration with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I-SPARC) and the Junior All Native Tournament (JANT). Kular and the Bandits worked to address systemic barriers and foster meaningful engagement, particularly for individuals with intersecting identities and those in remote areas. “Advancing anti-racism and intercultural trust requires courage, collaboration and commitment,” said Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives. “These honourees demonstrate all three values through their actions every day. Their efforts to break down barriers and amplify marginalized voices are making a real difference in schools, workplaces and communities across B.C. I am deeply grateful for their leadership and inspired by the positive change they continue to drive.” The B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Awards are part of the government’s broader efforts to counter hate and racism by celebrating and empowering local, community-based advocates. Since launching in 2008, more than 60 individuals and organizations have been honoured. Other initiatives include: an anti-hate community support fund that supports marginalized and at-risk groups with funding for security equipment, graffiti removal and repairs to damaged property the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network that connects communities with the information, supports and training they need to respond to and prevent future incidents of racism and hate the B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grants, which provide funding to support projects that tackle racial inequity and foster intercultural understanding throughout the province the Racist Incident Helpline, which partners with local organizations to connect people who have experienced racism with resources to help them heal
The Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation announced the launch of its School Tour program for the 2025-26 school year. The program will see Vancouver Bandits’ Head Coach & General Manager, Kyle Julius, visit secondary schools across British Columbia to host basketball skill and training sessions with student-athletes and their teams. Entering its third year, this free-of-charge initiative is part of the Bandits’ ongoing commitment to fostering youth basketball and building community connections throughout the province. The tour will run from November to February and will make weekly stops in different cities. Starting this week, communities that will be visited within the first two weeks of the program include schools in Abbotsford, Mission, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. The full schedule will be announced soon as additional communities are confirmed. Julius, a passionate advocate for youth sports development and mentorship, will be working directly with student-athletes and volunteer coaches at each school visited to offer insights into the game while emphasizing key life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and discipline. Throughout the tour, Julius will provide each secondary school’s basketball program with dedicated and tailored practices along with motivational talks and training materials. Each visit aims to elevate the game of basketball in BC high schools and offer a unique opportunity for students and coaches to learn from BC’s only professional basketball coach. The School Tour program is proudly supported by Preston Chevrolet and NOVO Dental Centre, community-minded sponsors who believe in the value of sports as a catalyst for positive change. During the previous 2024-25 school year, the Vancouver Bandits School Tour and Julius visited with 77 high school teams across British Columbia from November 2024 to February 2025.
LATEST VIDEO
A message from Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius on the 2025 season and thoughts on the CEBL Western Conference Semifinal.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 16th, 2025.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on July 25, 2025.