Ties EP 01 - Lance Fuentes (LA Handes)
Bandits Staff • March 8, 2022
Meet Lance Fuentes, a social media sensation from Richmond, B.C., with a handle that will leave any defender in his wake. Known as "LA Handles," Lance's dreams go beyond the court. Ties host Chris Wiggins caught up with Lance to discuss his early beginnings, big dreams and what is in store.
Chris: You have over 5 million likes and almost 600,000 followers on TikTok. I know you're catching eyes from all over the world. How do you come up with your ideas, how do you come up with your tricks, and how did this all start?
Lance: The ideas come from my dad and myself. It all started from my dad bringing me to the court for basketball, and then ever since I just fell in love with it. I feel like it's always been running in my family, it started from a really young age. Once, I picked up another basketball -- for some reason, I wanted to pick up two basketballs and I would always try to work on it and it felt like I was always getting better every time I practiced it. I would be doing different combinations and tricks, and then my dad would be beside me and he would push me and say things like "Can you do this?" And I would always be able to come through with it.
Chris: One of your videos has you dribbling balls wrapped in grocery bags and has 9.5 million views on TikTok. Did you expect it to blow up like that when you started posting this stuff?
Lance: I would post stuff but it wasn't really hitting on TikTok so I really needed to catch people's attention. I made some skits like "My Mom Said..." or "My Dad Said..." and it ended up turning into challenges so I'd have to do certain tricks. That was getting people's attention and now it's at 17 million views for my TikTok. I was surprised because it's still going up. Around Christmas time, it was at 9 million views.
Chris: What is the end goal for you, the ultimate hoop dream? Is it to just try and continue to gain traction on social media, or do you want to try and jump into the basketball scene south of the border?
Lance: For now, I want to inspire as many people as I can through social media. I feel like it's not just about myself gaining traction, it's about getting as much of the basketball community together and to inspire others. Instead of doing other things, they can be playing basketball and staying off the streets and that type of stuff. I would also like to become a dribbling coach in the future, a professional handles coach. It's not normal to see a person dribbling three balls, four balls, balls in bags, or blindfolded.
Subscribe to CEBL+ to watch the full interview.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that single game tickets for all home games for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League ( CEBL ) season are available for purchase to the public. The Bandits sold-out 75 per cent of regular season home games during the 2025 CEBL season so fans are encouraged to secure their tickets as soon as they can. The Bandits will tip off the home portion of their schedule with a pair of games as part of Home Opener Weekend at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (LEC). The home opener will be played on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT against the Edmonton Stingers, while the second game will take place on Sunday, May 24 at 5:00 p.m. when the Bandits host the Calgary Surge in a highly-anticipated rematch of the 2025 CEBL Western Conference Quarterfinal. “There is nothing like a Bandits Basketball game. It is high-energy, engaging and, most importantly, it’s for everyone. Whether you are a lifelong basketball fan, a family looking for a fun night out, or someone experiencing a game for the first time, you belong here,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “We have worked hard to create one of the best live event experiences in British Columbia, a place where the community comes together, cultures are celebrated, and unforgettable moments are made. We cannot wait to welcome all of BC to Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre this summer.” In celebration of the BC School Sports Basketball Provincial Championships, taking place at LEC, fans use the promotional code PROVINCIALS15 upon check out to save 15% off single game tickets played at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre until Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Single game tickets for all Bandits home games can be purchased here . The Vancouver Bandits’ complete home game schedule is as follows (all times Pacific): Home games played at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre, unless denoted. Friday, May 22, 2026 vs. Edmonton | 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 24, 2026 vs. Calgary | 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026 vs. Saskatchewan | 6:00 p.m. *Game played in Kelowna Saturday, June 13, 2026 vs. Ottawa | 6:00 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2026 vs. Scarborough | 7:00 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2026 vs. Brampton | 6:00 p.m. Saturday, June 27, 2026 vs. Winnipeg | 6:00 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2026 vs. Edmonton | 7:00 p.m. Sunday, July 5, 2026 vs. Calgary | 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026 vs. Montreal | 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2026 vs. Saskatchewan | 6:00 p.m. Sunday, August 2, 2026 vs. Winnipeg | 12:30 p.m. Featuring the club’s most fan-friendly schedule to date, Bandits home games will feature start times on Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. (3), Saturday nights at 6:00 p.m. (5), and Sunday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. (2). Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre will be the place to be for professional basketball in British Columbia this summer, further solidifying the Bandits’ fast-growing reputation as one of the most exciting and dynamic live event offerings in British Columbia. Fans can also look forward to the return of Bandits Theme Nights this summer. Dates and details of popular games, such as Filipino Heritage, South Asian Heritage and Country Night, along with new themes will be announced next month. Single game tickets for the eighth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase and can be accessed by clicking here . In addition to single game tickets, Season Tickets , Group Experiences and Jam Packs are also available for purchase.
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