Bandits Unveil New Logo and Jersey Ahead of 2025 Filipino Celebration Game

L’Alliance de Montréal a annoncé aujourd’hui la signature du garde Javon Freeman-Liberty, ancien joueur des Raptors de Toronto et l’un des arrières les plus dynamiques de la NBA G League. Freeman-Liberty apporte une expérience NBA à Montréal après avoir disputé 22 matchs avec les Raptors de Toronto lors de la saison 2023-2024, dont six départs. Le garde de 6 pieds 3 pouces a maintenu des moyennes de 7,0 points, 3,2 rebonds et 1,8 passe décisive par match, tout en démontrant son athlétisme, sa polyvalence et sa capacité à avoir un impact des deux côtés du terrain au plus haut niveau. Originaire de Chicago, Freeman-Liberty s’est également imposé comme l’un des joueurs les plus productifs de la NBA G League. Lors de son passage avec les Raptors 905 en 2023-2024, il a affiché des moyennes de 24,0 points, 6,8 rebonds et 4,0 passes décisives par match, réalisant plusieurs performances offensives dominantes, dont une récolte de 40 points face aux Legends du Texas le 9 janvier 2024. Plus récemment, Freeman-Liberty a évolué avec les Nets de Long Island dans la NBA G League, où il a continué de démontrer sa capacité à créer de l’offensive tout en maintenant une moyenne de plus de 13 points par match. Avant de faire le saut chez les professionnels, Freeman-Liberty s’est illustré à l’université DePaul, où il s’est établi parmi les meilleurs arrières de la conférence BIG EAST. Lors de sa dernière saison universitaire, il a enregistré des moyennes de 21,7 points, 7,2 rebonds et 3,2 passes décisives par match, notamment grâce à une performance de 39 points contre St. John’s le 27 février 2022. « Chaque fois que vous avez l’occasion d’ajouter un joueur possédant une expérience de haut niveau et un parcours éprouvé dans plusieurs ligues, ça élève le niveau de votre équipe », a déclaré le directeur général et copropriétaire de l’Alliance, Joel Anthony. « Javon possède une capacité naturelle à marquer des points, un excellent sens du jeu et l’habileté de se lever dans les moments importants. Ce sont des qualités que nous valorisons et qui, selon nous, s’intégreront parfaitement au système de nos entraîneurs en vue de la prochaine saison. » Au cours de sa carrière professionnelle, Freeman-Liberty présente des moyennes de 17,8 points, 5,5 rebonds et 3,1 passes décisives par match. Après s’être établi comme un marqueur dominant à tous les niveaux, il apportera maintenant son expérience et ses aptitudes offensives à Montréal pour la saison 2026 de la LECB. -REPMTL- À propos de l’Alliance de Montréal L’Alliance de Montréal est une équipe professionnelle de basketball évoluant dans la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB), le principal circuit estival de basketball au Canada. L’organisation s’engage à offrir un basketball de haut niveau ainsi qu’une expérience rassembleuse et divertissante aux partisans de Montréal et de partout au Québec.

The Montreal Alliance announced today the signing of guard Javon Freeman-Liberty, a former Toronto Raptors player and one of the NBA G League’s most dynamic two-way guards. Freeman-Liberty brings NBA experience to Montreal after appearing in 22 games with the Toronto Raptors during the 2023–24 season, including six starts. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 7.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while showcasing his athleticism, versatility, and ability to impact both ends of the floor at the highest level. The Chicago native also established himself as a standout performer in the NBA G League. During his stint with the Raptors 905 in 2023–24, Freeman-Liberty averaged 24.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, delivering multiple dominant scoring performances, including a 40-point outing against the Texas Legends (January 9, 2024). Most recently, Freeman-Liberty competed with the Long Island Nets in the NBA G League, continuing to demonstrate his playmaking ability while averaging over 13 points per game. Before turning professional, Freeman-Liberty starred at DePaul University, where he emerged as one of the top guards in the BIG EAST Conference. In his final collegiate season, he averaged 21.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, including a 39-point performance against St. John’s (February 27, 2022). “Any time you can add a player with high-level experience and a proven track record across multiple leagues, it raises the level of your team,” said Alliance General Manager and Co-Owner Joel Anthony. “Javon has a natural ability to score, a strong feel for the game, and the capacity to step up in big moments. Those are qualities we value and believe will fit well within our coaches’ system heading into the upcoming season.” Throughout his professional career, Freeman-Liberty has averaged 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Now, after establishing himself as a proven scorer at every level, Freeman-Liberty brings his experience and scoring ability to Montreal for the 2026 CEBL season. -REPMTL- About the Montreal Alliance The Montreal Alliance is a professional basketball team competing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s premier summer basketball league. The organization is committed to delivering high-level basketball and an engaging experience for fans in Montreal and across Quebec.

Yuot, a 6’8 forward from Calgary, brings size, athleticism, and international professional experience to Scarborough’s frontcourt. Known for his rebounding ability, physical play, and versatility on both ends of the floor, Yuot adds another high-energy presence to the Shooting Stars lineup. Yuot joins the Shooting Stars following a standout professional season with SC Vasco da Gama in Portugal, where he emerged as one of the top forwards in the league. During the 2025–26 season, Yuot averaged over 18 points and 7 rebounds per game while competing in Portugal’s top division. His strong performances earned him recognition across the league, including being named MVP of Round 12 in Portugal’s Liga Betclic Masculina after a dominant outing against FC Porto. Throughout his professional career, Yuot has built a reputation as a physical two-way forward capable of scoring efficiently, rebounding at a high level, and defending multiple positions. Before beginning his professional career overseas, Yuot developed through the Canadian basketball system, including time with the SAIT Trojans, where he continued to refine his game and establish himself as a versatile frontcourt player. His progression through collegiate and international basketball reflects his growth into a pro-ready forward capable of impacting winning in multiple ways. As a Canadian athlete with South Sudanese roots, Yuot represents the continued rise of diverse Canadian basketball talent competing professionally around the world. His international experience and physical style of play bring additional toughness and versatility to Scarborough’s roster. Yuot’s combination of size, rebounding, and defensive versatility gives the Shooting Stars another strong frontcourt option heading into the 2026 season. His ability to play with energy, finish inside, and compete physically on both ends of the floor makes him a valuable addition to the team. With Yuot joining the lineup, Scarborough continues to build a deep, athletic, and competitive roster ready to contend for a championship in the 2026 CEBL season.

The Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday that former Los Angeles Clippers G League guard and recent NBA G League All-Star Jaelen House has signed with the club for the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League season (CEBL). Boasting strong ties to Vancouver and the NBA, House is the nephew of former Vancouver Grizzlies star Mike Bibby and the son of former NBA champion Eddie House. “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Bandits and be part of something special in Vancouver,” said House on joining the Bandits and the CEBL. “The culture, toughness, and competitive mindset really stood out to me, and I know this is the right place for me to grow as a player and person. I’m ready to get to work, compete every day, and do whatever it takes to help this team win a championship! A 6-foot-1 guard from Phoenix, Ariz., House topped the NBA G League in assists percentage (40.5 per cent) with the San Diego Clippers last season. In addition to his team-leading 7.3 assists per game, he also recorded 21.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in 28.6 minutes through 22 regular season games. House broke multiple records for his all-star play during the 2025-26 season, setting a franchise record for assists in a game (17) and dropping a career-high 45 points on February 21, 2026. His stellar play earned him a roster spot in the 2026 NBA G League Next Up Game, part of NBA All-Star Weekend festivities. “Jaelen is an elite point guard with serious NBA talent. He will come in and enhance our offense and culture right away; he fits who we are and what we are about perfectly,” said head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. “This year's team is talented and full of grit and toughness, and that is exactly what Jaelen is all about.” House most recently played with the Beijing Royal Fighters of the Chinese Basketball Association, with whom he signed in March and posted a 44 point performance on April 19. Prior to turning professional, House attended the University of New Mexico (UNM) where he earned Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honours in the Mountain West Conference in his senior year in 2023-24. House started 31 games, leading the Lobos in scoring (15.9) and steals (2.3) per game, as well as 3.5 assists per game. He was voted as a Second Team All-Star in his conference, while captaining his team and 11th seed appearance at that year’s NCAA March Madness tournament. House also holds UNM’s single-season program record for steals (86) during the 2022-23 season, which ranked him second across all NCAA DI players that year. The Bandits open the 2026 CEBL season on Thursday, May 14 on the road in Saskatoon before coming home for its Home Opener against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+, the CEBL Mobile app, the CBC Gem app and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Marquee games will air nationally on CBC TV.  ### About the Vancouver Bandits: The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an 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 at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre (LEC), while also being committed to growing the game of basketball by fostering meaningful community connections through youth programming, events, and partnerships.

Et c'est parti. La saison de la LECB a officiellement débuté samedi lorsque les Sea Bears de Winnipeg ont remporté une victoire palpitante de 77-75 contre les Stingers d’Edmonton. Maintenant, nous sommes prêts pour un programme complet d’action alors que chacune des huit autres équipes commence leur saison cette semaine. Avant de s’y investir complètement, il est important de rappeler que les choses sont un peu différentes cette fois-ci. Principalement dû au fait qu’il n'y a pas de place automatique en séries éliminatoires avec les quatre meilleures équipes par fiche dans chaque conférence atteignant les séries éliminatoires de la LECB. Les finales de la LECB seront une série au meilleur de trois pour la première fois de l'histoire de la ligue, disputées sur les terrains des deux équipes. Malgré ce changement, l'action de la LECB que vous connaissez et aimez reste largement la même. Voici huit joueurs, un de chaque équipe qui fera ses débuts cette semaine, qui valent la peine d'être surveillés alors que la saison 2026 est officiellement lancée : Rugzy Miller-Moore, arrière, le Surge de Calgary Nous commencerons par un visage familier alors que Miller-Moore, le natif de Brampton, revient à Calgary pour une quatrième saison consécutive. Miller-Moore, 27 ans, est le meilleur marqueur de l’histoire parmi les Canadiens dans la LECB depuis qu’il a dépassé Alex Campbell la saison dernière, et il était si près de remporter son tout premier titre avant de perdre contre les River Lions de Niagara en août dernier. Maintenant, il cherchera à obtenir enfin cette bague tant attendue. Matthew Cleveland, arrière, les BlackJacks d’Ottawa Cleveland, 23 ans, rejoint la LECB après avoir passé la saison dans la G League, où il a travaillé en étroite collaboration avec le nouvel entraîneur-chef des BlackJacks, Justin Mazzulla qui était un coordinateur vidéo avec les Jazz de l’Utah, tout en étant avec leur filiale de Salt Lake City. Le natif d'Atlanta a en moyenne 16,1 points par match en tant que recrue de la G League, avec 7,8 rebonds tout en réussissant 35,7 % de ses tentatives de trois points. Mychal Mulder, arrière, les Bandits de Vancouver Mulder, un vétéran de 84 matchs dans la NBA, est prêt pour ses débuts dans la LECB dans l’équipe des Bandits qui cherche toujours leur premier titre. Le natif de Windsor, en Ontario, a été connu comme un tireur tout au long de sa carrière de basketball avec un taux de réussite de 37 % dans la NBA, où il a joué pour la dernière fois en 2022. Maintenant, il espère combler les lacunes laissées par le départ du joueur le plus utile en titre, Mitch Creek, à Vancouver. Tavian Dunn-Martin, arrière, le Mamba de Saskatoon Un visage familier dans un nouvel endroit, Dunn-Martin est prêt pour sa deuxième saison dans la LECB après avoir brillé en tant que recrue avec l'Alliance de Montréal. Le petit meneur a joué 21 matchs pour le club québécois, avec une moyenne de 18,8 points et 6,2 passes décisives. Il rejoint maintenant une équipe avec une nouvelle image, le Mamba, à la recherche de son premier championnat depuis la saison inaugurale de 2019. Charles Bediako, ailier, les Shooting Stars de Scarborough L'ailier canadien, qui a de l'expérience dans la G League, a fait la une des journaux cette année lorsqu'il est brièvement revenu dans l'équipe masculine de basketball de l'Université de l'Alabama avant qu'un tribunal ne déclare qu'il était inéligible. Maintenant, Bediako, de Brampton, en Ontario, revient dans les rangs professionnels avec les Shooting Stars, où il promet d'être une force à l’attaque. Guillaume Boucard, ailier, l’Alliance de Montréal Boucard rentre chez lui à Montréal après avoir goûté au titre avec les River Lions de Niagara la saison dernière, où il a joué un rôle important, principalement en sortie de banc, avec une moyenne de 20 minutes, 6,9 points et cinq rebonds par match. L’Alliance n'a jamais atteint la Finale du Championnat en quatre saisons et peut-être que l'expérience de Boucard pourrait être la pièce manquante. Sean East II, arrière, les Honey Badgers de Brampton Le finaliste du joueur le plus utile porte de nouvelles couleurs cette saison alors qu'il se dirige vers l'est depuis Edmonton, où il a réalisé une saison recrue impressionnante en 2025. Maintenant, East II, aux côtés d'autres signatures de renom, comme Jameer Nelson Jr. et son ancien coéquipier des Stingers Keon Ambrose-Hylton, cherchera à restaurer la gloire à la franchise des Honey Badgers. East II a marqué en moyenne 23,3 points par match la saison dernière tout en tirant à 40,6 % de loin. Khalil Ahmad, arrière, les River Lions de Niagara Le joueur le plus utile des finales à deux reprises est de retour pour une nouvelle tentative alors qu'il cherche à mener les River Lions à un troisième titre consécutif. L'Ahmad toujours calme, est de loin le meneur de l’histoire de la LECB en termes de points gagnants du pointage cible, et même au milieu des changements autour de lui, notamment à propos de l'entraîneur-chef, il reste celui qui fait bouger les choses pour Niagara. Horaire de la semaine (huit matchs) Match #2 – le mardi 12 mai – CGY à OTT – 19 h 30 HAE / 17 h 30 HAR – L'aréna la Place TD (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #3 – le jeudi 14 mai – VAN à SSK – 10 h 30 HAC / 9 h 30 HAP / 12 h 30 HAE – Centre SaskTel (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #4 – le vendredi 15 mai – SSS à MTL – 19 h 30 HAE – Auditorium de Verdun (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Match #5 – le vendredi 15 mai – OTT à BHB – 19 h 30 HAE – Centre CAA (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #6 – le samedi 16 mai – SSK à WPG – 19 h HNC / 18 h HAC / 20 h HAE – Centre Canada Life (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #7 – le samedi 16 mai – VAN à EDM – 19 h HAR / 18 h HAP / 21 h HAE – Centre EXPO d'Edmonton (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #8 – le dimanche 17 mai – CGY à BHB – 16 h HAE / 14 h HAR – Centre CAA (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Match #9 – le lundi 18 mai – NRL à OTT – 19 h HAE – L'aréna de la Place TD (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Pour le calendrier complet de la LECB 2026, veuillez visiter cebl.ca/games .

And we’re off. The CEBL season officially tipped off Saturday when the Winnipeg Sea Bears squeaked out a target-score thriller in a 77-75 win over the Edmonton Stingers. Now, we’re set for a full slate of action as each of the eight other teams get their years started this week. Before we fully dive in, one last reminder that things are a little different this time around — mainly, there is no automatic playoff berth, with the top four teams by record in each conference reaching the CEBL Playoffs. The CEBL Finals will be a best-of-three for the first time in league history, contended on both teams’ home courts. Still, the CEBL action you know and love largely remains the same. Here are eight players — one from each team that will debut this week — worth watching with the 2026 season officially underway: Rugzy Miller-Moore, guard, Calgary Surge We’ll start with a familiar face as Miller-Moore, the Brampton native, returns to Calgary for a fourth straight season. Miller-Moore, 27, is the all-time leading scorer among Canadians in the CEBL after passing Alex Campbell last season, and he came oh-so-close to winning his first-ever title before falling to the Niagara River Lions last August. Now, he’ll be looking to finally get that long-awaited ring. Matthew Cleveland, guard, Ottawa BlackJacks Cleveland, 23, comes to the CEBL after spending the season in the G League, where he worked close to incoming BlackJacks head coach Justin Mazzulla, a video coordinator with the Utah Jazz, while with their Salt Lake City affiliate. The Atlanta native averaged 16.1 points per game as a G League rookie to go with 7.8 rebounds while knocking down 35.7 per cent of his three-point attempts. Mychal Mulder, guard, Vancouver Bandits A veteran of 84 NBA games, Mulder is set for his CEBL debut on a Bandits team still searching for its first title. The Windsor, Ont., native has been known as a shooter throughout his basketball career, including a 37 per cent mark in the NBA, where he last played in 2022. Now, he’ll hope to fill in the gaps left by the exit of reigning MVP Mitch Creek in Vancouver. Tavian Dunn-Martin, guard, Saskatoon Mamba An old face in a new place, Dunn-Martin is set for his sophomore season in the CEBL after shining as a rookie with the Montreal Alliance. The diminutive point guard played 21 games for the Quebec club, averaging 18.8 points and 6.2 assists. He now joins a rebranded Mamba squad in search of its first championship since the inaugural 2019 season. Charles Bediako, forward, Scarborough Shooting Stars The Canadian forward, who has G League experience, made headlines this year when briefly returned to the University of Alabama men’s basketball team before a court ruled he was ineligible. Now, Bediako, of Brampton, Ont., returns to the pro ranks with the Shooting Stars, where he promises to be a frontcourt force. Guillaume Boucard, forward, Montreal Alliance Boucard heads back home to Montreal after tasting the title with the Niagara River Lions last season, where he played a critical role, mostly off the bench, averaging 20 minutes, 6.9 points and five rebounds per contest. With the Alliance never having reached the Championship Final in their four seasons, perhaps Boucard’s experience could be the missing piece. Sean East II, guard, Brampton Honey Badgers The MVP runner-up is sporting new colours this season as he heads east from Edmonton, where he put together a masterful rookie season in 2025. Now, East II — alongside fellow big-name signings in Jameer Nelson Jr. and ex-Stingers teammate Keon Ambrose-Hylton — will look to restore glory to the Honey Badgers franchise. East II scored 23.3 points per game last season while shooting 40.6 per cent from beyond the arc. Khalil Ahmad, guard, Niagara River Lions The two-time reigning Finals MVP is back for another go at it as he looks to lead the River Lions to a third straight ‘chip. The always-calm Ahmad is far-and-away the CEBL’s all-time leader in Target Score Winners, and even amid change around him — most notably at head coach — he remains the straw that stirs the Niagara drink. Weekly schedule (Eight games) Game #2 – Tuesday, May 12 – CGY at OTT – 7:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. MT – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #3 – Thursday, May 14 – VAN at SSK – 10:30 a.m. CST / 9:30 a.m. PT / 12:30 p.m. ET – SaskTel Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #4 – Friday, May 15 – SSS at MTL – 7:30 p.m. ET – Verdun Auditorium (CBC Gem, YouTube, RDS, CEBL+) Game #5 – Friday, May 15 – OTT at BHB – 7:30 p.m. ET – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #6 – Saturday, May 16 – SSK at WPG – 7 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. CST / 8 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #7 – Saturday, May 16 – VAN at EDM – 7 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #8 – Sunday, May 17 – CGY at BHB – 4 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. MT – CAA Centre (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) Game #9 – Monday, May 18 – NRL at OTT – 7 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CBC Gem, YouTube, CEBL+) For the full 2026 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .

Une équipe de diffusion chevronnée, couvrant tout le pays, s'apprête à retransmettre chaque instant de l'action tout au long de l'été sur les plateformes de la CBC et sur CEBL+

Accomplished coast-to-coast broadcast team set to deliver every moment of the action all summer across CBC platforms and CEBL+

The Montreal Alliance of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today the signing of Montreal natives Georges Lefebvre and Nate Tshimanga as training camp continues ahead of the 2026 season and the team’s home opener. The additions of Lefebvre and Tshimanga bring size, physicality, and local talent to the Alliance frontcourt as the organization continues preparations for the upcoming CEBL campaign. “These additions give us strong depth, versatility, and competition heading into the season,” said Co-Owner and General Manager Joel Anthony. “Both players bring physicality, energy, and a strong work ethic that fit the identity we want to build.” Georges Lefebvre | Forward | 6’8” | Montreal, QC A Montreal product, Lefebvre joins the Alliance after beginning his professional career in Portugal with Galitos Barreiro, where he averaged 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting an impressive 50 percent from three-point range in limited action. The 6-foot-8 forward previously competed at the NCAA Division I and II levels with Vermont and Simon Fraser before starring at McGill University during the 2024-25 season. At McGill, Lefebvre averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, recording multiple double-doubles and establishing himself as a reliable interior presence. Known for his size, rebounding ability, and floor spacing, Lefebvre adds versatility to the Alliance frontcourt. Nate Tshimanga | Centre | 6’10” | Montreal, QC A familiar face within the organization, Tshimanga officially joins the Alliance roster after spending time with the team’s practice squad during the 2025 season and earning opportunities with the active roster throughout the year, where he showed strong energy and interior presence. The Montreal-born center appeared in seven games for the Alliance this past season, averaging 2.0 points and 0.9 rebounds while shooting 77.8 percent from the field in limited minutes. Prior to turning professional, Tshimanga competed at Troy University, Utah Valley, and New Mexico State, appearing in more than 100 NCAA Division I games over four collegiate seasons. His size, physicality, and familiarity with the organization add valuable depth and frontcourt presence as the Alliance continues preparations throughout training camp and into the start of the season. With training camp now underway, the Alliance continues preparing for its 2026 home opener and the start of a new CEBL season. The additions of Lefebvre and Tshimanga strengthen the club’s frontcourt depth heading into the summer. ### About the Montreal Alliance The Montreal Alliance is a professional basketball team competing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s premier summer basketball league. The organization is committed to delivering high-level basketball and an engaging experience for fans in Montreal and across Quebec.