DIEGO MAFFIA

LANGLEY, B.C. , April 12, 2024 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Friday that the club has re-signed 2024 U SPORTS most valuable player Diego Maffia for the club’s upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC). Maffia appeared in 14 contests (four starts) with the Bandits last summer and averaged 7.1 points, 2.4 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 15.2 minutes per game in his first season of professional basketball. In his first pro career start on June 3, 2023, Maffia recorded a double-double and the game-winning basket as part of a 15-point, 11-assist performance against the Calgary Surge. This will be the Bandits’ sixth season and Maffia’s second with the club. A native of Victoria, B.C., and an alumnus of Oak Bay Secondary, Maffia returns to Vancouver on a ‘developmental contract,’ which allows the 22-year-old guard to retain his eligibility for a fifth year at the University of Victoria, where he has starred for the Vikes since 2019. Prior to the 2023-24 U SPORTS season, Maffia spent last summer with the Bandits after being drafted sixth overall in the first round of the 2023 CEBL Draft. “After a great experience last summer, I knew that I wanted to run it back. We have some unfinished business to take care of and I can’t wait to do it in front of the best fanbase in the country!” Maffia said. Maffia has enjoyed a decorated U SPORTS career to date. He has been named a first team all-Canadian and Canada West player of the year twice in consecutive years (2022-23 and 23-24), and has led the Vikes to three straight Canada West championships and U SPORTS Final 8 appearances. Over the course of four seasons at Victoria, Maffia is averaging 28.3 minutes, 20.1 points, 3.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 3.4 three-pointers made per game on 34.8 per cent shooting from long range across 75 games played (56 starts). “I felt it was important to sign and announce Diego as a standard player. He will have a development contract to maintain his eligibility but I view him as a high level pro who has earned a proper roster spot with us. Diego has proven he belongs in this league and we are excited about working with him again this summer,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. Tickets for the Vancouver Bandits’ highly anticipated home opener on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. against the Montréal Alliance are on sale now at this link . 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 .

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 .

LANGLEY, B.C. , May 14, 2023 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Sunday its 2023 training camp roster ahead of the club’s upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League ( CEBL ) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC). Vancouver’s roster features a total of 14 athletes; including six Canadian veterans, four Americans, one non-American overseas import and three U SPORTS development athletes. Media availability to attend Bandits training camp has been scheduled for Friday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. at LEC. Journalists interested in attending are kindly asked to RSVP to Andrew Savory ( asavory@thebandits.ca ) to request credentials. Accreditation will be required. The group will be led by head coach and general manager Kyle Julius, who is returning to the CEBL sidelines for the first time since he led BC’s professional basketball team to the brink of championship glory in 2020 when the Bandits fell to the Edmonton Stingers in the Summer Series finals. “We are all really excited about this year's training camp roster. The goal is to build a team the province of British Columbia can be proud of. We are committed to competitive greatness, toughness and playing together,” Julius said.

LANGLEY, B.C. , April 19, 2023 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that the club has drafted two local university standouts, Diego Maffia from the University of Victoria and Brian Wallack from the University of British Columbia (UBC), at the fifth annual Canadian Elite Basketball League ( CEBL ) U SPORTS Draft. An alumnus of Victoria’s Oak Bay Secondary, Maffia recently completed his third year of U SPORTS hoops and was selected by the Bandits sixth overall in the first round. Wallack starred at Semiahmoo Secondary before embarking upon his post-secondary career with the UBC Thunderbirds, where he has played for four seasons prior to being selected 15th overall in the second round of this year’s draft. “We are really excited about working with Diego. He is an outstanding young Canadian player with an extremely bright future. He has an elite knack for scoring and making big plays. We are looking forward to working with him and helping him grow as a player,” Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius said. “We love the way Brian plays. He is tough and he plays with big time energy. We are excited about helping Brian improve and having his passion and effort enhance our culture.” A 6-foot-1 guard, Maffia’s ascent up the CEBL U SPORTS Draft boards coincides with the Vikes’ recent postseason success, earning back-to-back trips to the U SPORTS Final 8 in 2022 and 2023. Maffia led the nation in scoring during the 2022-23 season with 24.9 points per game while also averaging 4.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game on 47.3 and 37.3 per cent shooting from field goal and three-point range, respectively. Maffia’s 10.6 attempts from three-point range were tops in the country, as were his four conversions per game from long range. The marksman was named Canada West Player of the Year and a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. Maffia’s reputation as a talented shooter dates back to his high school days when he scored what is believed to be the record for points in a game with 96 on Feb. 9, 2019 at the 46th annual Western Canada tournament in Kelowna. “The opportunity to be drafted into the CEBL is a special privilege and I am grateful to be selected by my home province’s professional team in the Vancouver Bandits. I have followed the club since its inception and I have watched the CEBL grow year after year. I am keen to learn from the veteran pros on the roster and through the tutelage of the Bandits’ coaching staff,” Maffia said. Two of Maffia’s most impressive performances came when the Vikes needed it most. He dropped 42 points in the Vikes’ season finale victory versus UBC and followed it up a month later with a 40-point Final 8 quarterfinal performance against UPEI that included the game winning basket to seal the game and a semifinal berth for Victoria. “Diego’s talent and dedication have earned him a well-deserved opportunity to play in the CEBL. Playing and practicing versus professional players will provide him with experience and development opportunities that will help him grow as a player. The CEBL has a talented pool of players and Diego will have the chance to compete against some of the best basketball players in Canada,” Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp said. A 6-foot-7 forward, Wallack is currently working toward his master’s of kinesiology and balances his graduate studies with his on and off court commitments for the Thunderbirds. The result of this past campaign was his best U SPORTS season to date. After averaging 5.6 points per game in 2021-22, Wallack bumped his averages across the board, setting career highs with 18.8 points and recording 7.3 rebounds and two assists per game on 56.1 per cent shooting from field goal range. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Vancouver Bandits this summer. It has been a dream of mine since the CEBL started to be a member of the team. I would like to thank Bandits management for this opportunity as well as my family, friends and coaches that have helped me get to this position. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by great people,” Wallack said. Wallack scored a career-high 31 points (13-of-15 from the field) in a 92-79 win over Brandon University on January 7. “We are thrilled that Brian has earned the opportunity to be drafted by the Vancouver Bandits,” said UBC head coach Kevin Hanson. “This is a result of Brian’s remarkable work ethic both on and off the court that has seen him evolve into such an effective all-around player who had a breakout season for us as a team leader. He’s a tough competitor that set the tone for us on many nights and he is a first class individual that will only continue to build his talent in a professional basketball environment with the Bandits.” The Bandits tip-off the 2023 CEBL campaign on Saturday, May 27 when the club takes on the Winnipeg Sea Bears at Canada Life Centre. Fans will have their first chance to watch the Bandits on home soil at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 3 when Vancouver welcomes the Calgary Surge for its first-ever visit to LEC. Season tickets for the fifth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase and can be accessed by clicking here . A full seat map, price chart breakdown, season schedule and a complete list of season ticket holder benefits can be found by clicking here . 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 .