ACROSS THE GLOBE AND BACK AGAIN: DAVE SINGLETON PREPARES TO TAKE THE REINS AS HEAD COACH
By Bandits Staff Writer: Diana Hong • May 6, 2021
Dave Singleton has already begun to prepare for his new role as head coach of the Fraser Valley Bandits this summer. The transition will see Singleton, who spent last summer as an assistant coach under the watchful eye of mentor and then-head coach and general manager Kyle Julius, take the reins as bench boss.
Julius, who currently serves as head coach for the Formosa Dreamers, will remain in Taiwan this summer and will serve as general manager of the Bandits this season.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to get back to North America and coach there with the quality level of basketball in Canada that’s forever growing and expanding,” Singleton said
Singleton actually grew up as a football player and later pursued a career in coaching basketball. Since starting his coaching career with the Nelson Giants in New Zealand’s National Basketball League (NBL), he has focused on bringing the toughness and camaraderie learned from his time spent playing wide receiver for Tiffin University’s football team to each club that he works with.
“Blocking for another player to get that person open is like giving yourself up, being selfless in the way that you operate every day,” Singleton said. “Playing football has taught me a lot of valuable lessons. I was able to have that mental toughness as well and being ready physically even at a young age when I played high school as a freshman on varsity because I was used to physical contact.”
From New Zealand, Vietnam and Indonesia, Singleton has plenty of experience coaching professional basketball in a variety of cultural contexts. Singleton is currently the head coach for Bima Perkasa of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL).The team recently qualified for the playoffs. All the teams in the IBL are celebrating Ramadan, which Singleton respects as an important part of the team, league and country’s culture. In the meantime, Singleton has adjusted the team’s training plans to ensure they stay in shape and to ensure the safety of his team.
As an international coach, having a translator has been crucial for Singleton to swiftly and clearly communicate with his team. He has learned about different cultural values and has developed an appreciation for each player’s willingness to learn. He recognizes that patience is required when teaching new plays because he needs to make sure his players clearly understand his feedback and instruction, even if it means revisiting certain topics or spending extra time to convey a key point.
“I've used a translator basically over the last five years, so I've been very blessed with that,” Singleton said.
Although Singleton has been busy with Bima Perkasa, he has continued his efforts to build toward the start of Fraser Valley’s season, which is slated to begin June 24.
“From managing this team here and the beginning of our Bandits season, our acquisitions, our roster moves and connecting the team on Zoom calls, it's a forever process. I'm working basically 24 hours – calling people back in Canada and then obviously doing my job here so it's been quite the experience but I don't mind it at all,” Singleton said.
Singleton has also been in close contact with his coaching staff. “What we've already done over the first month and a half, even two months, is I've organized Zoom calls with the assistant coaches (soon to be announced). We stay connected and we talk basketball, roster and philosophy,” Singleton said.
Singleton has also been in close contact with Julius. Julius and Singleton talk daily and stay up to date amid the flux of the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s (CEBL) free agency period.
Although his staff are spread across the world, Singleton and the rest of the basketball operations department have made it a priority to show Bandits fans that last season’s success was just the beginning. After finishing first in point differential and second in steals and assists per game, the Bandits lost against the Edmonton Stingers in the finals at the CEBL Summer Series. The team is eager to prove that the best has yet to come for Fraser Valley’s pro ball club.
Competing within the format of a single-site season last year at the Summer Series, Singleton and the coaching staff were able to develop a workout plan that can be done by players remotely. The rigorous routine has carried forward to this season with players being held accountable through virtual meetings.
“It was a way that we were able to put these guys in situations where they can post videos, post pictures of themselves working out into our group chat on WhatsApp. What it does is it creates a lot of chemistry and continues to push our culture forward,” Singleton said.
“It’s a new season and a new team. We don’t want to look to the past too much. We know that this is a new challenge and a new opportunity, but our goals remain the same. We want to make sure that we do everything that we can now, so that we can get back to that championship.”
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The Vancouver Bandits led nearly from start to finish, avenging an earlier loss with a 104-95 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks. The teams met on Saturday night on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre, with the Bandits improving to 7-2 atop the Canadian Elite Basketball League's Western Conference. The BlackJacks fell to 4-5, dropping into a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference. “The way they beat us was pretty evident and obvious,” said Vancouver Bandits coach Kyle Julius of the earlier meeting on June 2. “So, I thought we did a great job – for the most part – correcting what hurt us, so that was nice to see.” “I think there was probably a little more urgency defensively,” he explained. The Bandits led for all but 29 seconds of the game, thanks in large part to a 30-point opening quarter. From there, however, the offence struggled to maintain the same rhythm. “Fatigue. We just didn’t have our rotation,” Julius said. “We were shorthanded, and I wasn’t really surprised with the ebb and flow and the dips we had. “Even D’Andre Davis – who is going to be a very good player for us – but if you look at his ankle, it’s still swollen, so he’s out there hobbling around.” The offence was powered by Jarkel Joiner, who had 37 points – a franchise record – seven assists and four rebounds. “The coaches had a great game plan, and we executed it,” Joiner said. “We locked in, we didn’t take the game for granted.” Joiner had a larger role in the game, especially with point guard and leading scorer Jaelen House sidelined. “Honestly, it’s hard without him. He makes the game so much easier with his quickness, how fast he is, how explosive he is, how he sees the game,” Joiner admitted. “But coach needed me to step up tonight, and (Duane Notice) helped with the point guard role, and everybody stepped up.” Miller Kopp added 15 points and eight rebounds, Mychal Mulder finished with 13 and Tyrese Samuel chipped in 10 points and eight boards. Dominic Parolin came off the bench to finish with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds, giving Vancouver five scorers in double figures. Ottawa was led by Javonte Smart’s 29 points with Matthew Cleveland and Justin Harmon both adding 19. "They play hard. They have respect for the game and force you into a lot of contested shots, so for us, we have to continue to fight for great shots," said BlackJacks coach Justin Mazzulla. “We have to continue to play together and have our energy not be impacted by whether the ball goes in or not.”  Up next, the Bandits return to Envision Financial Court on June 15 to host the Eastern Conference-leading Scarborough Shooting Stars (7-1). Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Vancouver Bandits professional basketball team have announced that internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and music producer Sukshinder Shinda will perform at the club’s third annual South Asian Heritage Game, presented by Westland Insurance, Envision Financial and SDC by Tut on Saturday, June 20 when the Bandits host the visiting Brampton Honey Badgers at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Exclusive to Bandits ticket holders, fans attending the game can look forward to two performances on June 20; 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. Tickets for Shinda’s performances, which are included with the purchase of a game ticket, start as low as $30 each; all ticket prices are inclusive of taxes and fees are on sale now at this link . Fans in attendance are strongly encouraged to arrive prior to 6:00 p.m. PT to ensure that they have time to find parking (free on-site) and locate their seats before Shinda’s performance, which will be shortly after the top of the hour before the Bandits and Honey Badgers tip-off at 6:00 p.m. The festivities celebrating basketball, community and culture begin with the free Bandits Backyard BBQ presented by Otter Co-op starting at 4:00 p.m. Taking place outside Gate 4 adjacent to Willoughby Community Park, the Backyard BBQ will feature an array of outdoor food vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities for fans of all ages to enjoy. Widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in the Punjabi music industry, Shinda has built an extraordinary legacy both as a powerful vocalist and as a pioneering music producer. His distinctive voice, innovative productions, and ability to blend traditional sounds with contemporary influences have helped shape the modern Punjabi music landscape and inspired artists around the world. Over the years, Shinda has delivered numerous hit songs and produced music for some of the biggest names in Punjabi entertainment. His groundbreaking work behind the scenes, combined with his success as a recording artist and live performer, has earned him international acclaim and a devoted fan following spanning generations. Join us for a night of unforgettable music and exciting pro basketball action as Sukshinder Shinda brings his legendary sound, celebrated catalogue, and unparalleled stage presence to the 2026 Vancouver Bandits South Asian Celebration Game Halftime Show on Saturday, June 20. Ticket to the game required; the halftime show is included as part of your Vancouver Bandits game experience.
A change of scenery didn’t stop the Vancouver Bandits’ wrecking crew in Kelowna on Saturday night. The Bandits cruised to a dominant 105-85 win over the Saskatoon Mamba as part of the first ever Kelowna HOOPFEST. Jarkel Joiner (23 points) and Tyrese Samuel (22 points) led the team while Miller Kopp followed with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. With this win, the Bandits boast a 6-2 record and are winners of five of their last six games. Kelowna native Grant Sheppard also chipped in with a CEBL career-high 10 points and three rebounds on perfect five-for-five efficiency from the floor. Shephard credited his hometown fans for a jolt of support. “I just had that extra energy and passion tonight. I want to play my best but tonight it was just for Kelowna,” said Shephard. “This whole stadium reminds me of Langley Events Centre. The atmosphere and the fans were great.” Bandits head coach Kyle Julius also applauded the atmosphere at Prospera Place as “tremendous” and said his team felt the support from the fans for all four quarters. “I knew it was going to be good, but this was better than I could’ve expected,” he said. Julius praised Shephard’s play and his ability to enter action without seeing heavy minutes. “He doesn’t complain. He comes in everyday with a smile and he’s locked and loaded and ready to go,” said Julius. The Bandits controlled the game from the opening tip, jumping out to a 23-3 lead in the first quarter. The lead would only build, extending to as many as 21 points in the opening half and eventually 29 points as the game went on. Samuel scored 13 of his 22 points by halftime. Eight Bandits were on the scoresheet, including seven points and nine rebounds from standout rookie Dominic Parolin. Everything went right for Bandits tonight as they shot 12-27 from three point land and forced the Mamba into a hole that was too deep to climb out of. “To play the way we did feels great,” said Julius. The Bandits are back in action at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre on June 13 to battle the Ottawa BlackJacks in the second game of a three game home stand.
As the road trip ends, so does the winning streak for the Vancouver Bandits as they suffered a 114-105 loss to the Ottawa BlackJacks on Tuesday night. A late comeback by the Bandits fell short in the final game of a three-game road trip, outscoring the BlackJacks 58-54 in the second half. They trailed by as many as 18 points. “We were tired. It’s been a long road trip and I thought we played tired,” said Bandits head coach Kyle Julius. “A little bit of everything wasn't clicking.” Heading into tonight’s contest, the Bandits were winners of four straight games but scored their third-lowest point total of the season in Ottawa. Ottawa’s energy could be felt from the opening tip as they went in front in the first quarter and never lost the lead. They jumped out to a 60-47 lead at half-time, outscoring the Bandits 28-18 in the second quarter. The story of the game was the play of Ottawa’s Matthew Cleveland and Justin Harmon, who combined for 71 points. Cleveland finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and Harmon finished with 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Bandits entered action with a 5-1 record, tied for the league’s best, which Cleveland said his team didn't take lightly. “That’s a great team right there so I knew coming in we had to play our A game,” said Cleveland. Jarkel Joiner pitched in with a team-high 25 points, the most he’s scored as a Bandit, while Tyrese Samuel recorded 13 points and five rebounds. Julius credited the BlackJacks for making it difficult for his team, noting the improvement of the league’s Eastern Conference. “In years past (the conference) was quite weak, but at the moment it seems strong,” said Julius. Defensive stops were hard to come by for the Bandits as the BlackJacks shot 12-24 from three-point range and shot 45-74 from the field overall. Vancouver’s ball security was some of the best of the season, committing just 10 turnovers compared to Ottawa’s 21 turnovers. They also shot 37 free throws while Ottawa had only 16 attempts. However, the Bandits were beat out in rebounds (46-27) and threes made (12-10). Julius said his team will use the next few days to watch film and regroup to put the loss behind them. “We’ve got to go back and take care of our bodies and work on the things that we see need correcting,” said Julius. Jaelen House recorded his third straight double-double with 24 points, 12 assists and a season-high five steals. In the latter minutes of the fourth quarter, House was ejected after receiving his second technical foul of the game. The Bandits will head back to the West Coast for a three-game home stand, beginning on Saturday against the Saskatoon Mamba at Prospera Place in Kelowna. Afterwards, they’ll get a rematch with the BlackJacks on June 13.
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