Surge Add High-Flying G League Forward Osifo to Roster

May 11, 2025

The Calgary Surge are proud to announce the signing of forward Osayi Osifo for the 2025 CEBL season. A 6’9” forward known for his relentless energy, rebounding prowess, and interior efficiency, Osifo joins the Surge after a standout season with the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League.



Born in Bedworth Park, South Africa, and raised in McKinney, Texas, Osifo’s journey from a track and field athlete to professional basketball has been marked by toughness, perseverance, and constant growth. In the 2024–25 G League season, he appeared in 39 games (25 starts) for the Austin Spurs, averaging 6.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 64.6% from the field.


“Osayi is exactly the kind of player who fits our culture — high character, high motor, and team-first,” said Calgary Surge General Manager Shane James. “His path is inspiring, and his energy and physicality on the court will make an immediate impact in Calgary.”


Before going pro, Osifo enjoyed a strong collegiate career across three programs. He earned First Team All-State NJCAA Region 8 honors at Eastern Florida State College, followed by a season at the University of Florida, where he gained SEC experience with the Gators. He then transferred to Jacksonville University, where he became a key contributor and led the team in rebounding during his senior year. He posted a career-high 17 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Central Arkansas and had a stretch of seven straight games in double figures during the 2022–23 season.


“I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete with the Surge this summer,” said Osifo. “Calgary has built a winning culture and a passionate fan base, and I’m excited to bring energy and toughness every night. Let’s get to work.”


Osifo is the first South African player to suit up for the Surge and will bring a global perspective to the locker room. He joins a stacked 2025 roster aiming to make a deep playoff run.


Tickets for the Calgary Surge’s ‘TRILOGY’ season are now available at calgarysurge.ca. This season includes regular season games at WinSport Event Centre and marquee events at the Westerner Park Centrium in Red Deer and the Scotiabank Saddledome.



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About the Calgary Surge

The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). From day one, the Surge have been committed to being the Home Team for Calgary and a space where everyone is welcome.


The Calgary Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over two seasons, the Surge have made back-to-back CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023, hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 4000 deserving kids and families to their games for free. Fans can expect even more excitement for 2025! For more information, visit
www.calgarysurge.ca.



June 26, 2025
The Fayetteville, NC forward adds depth to the Rattlers frontcourt
June 26, 2025
The CEBL veteran has appeared in 77 career games with Brampton, Ottawa and Saskatchewan
June 26, 2025
The Vancouver Bandits announced Wednesday that the club will deliver the first-ever Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) game broadcast in Tagalog as part of the Bandits’ second-annual Filipino Celebration Game on Saturday, June 28 at Langley Events Centre (LEC). The historic broadcast can be viewed by fans worldwide for free on the league’s streaming platform, CEBL+ . Fans can use the promo code “TAGALOG” when registering on the platform to unlock free access to the premium annual package at plus.cebl.ca . Tip-off for the Bandits’ Filipino Celebration Game is on Saturday, June 28 at 7:00 p.m. local time, Sunday, June 29 at 10:00 a.m. Philippine time. Delivering the insights and commentary are Renz Cadang and Harold Abejo, organizers of the Surrey, B.C.-based Batang Pinoy Basketball League , one of the largest Filipino men’s recreational basketball leagues in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland region. According to Statistics Canada, as of 2021, 2.7 per cent of the province’s population has knowledge of the Tagalog language. Tagalog also accounts for 6.7 per cent of all non-official language speakers throughout Canada. “​​I am honoured to be part of this historic night for the Bandits and the CEBL! It’s more than just a game for me, it is a chance to represent and honour not only my culture, but also the ‘pamilya’ and community who have always lifted me up and inspired me every step of the way,” said Cadang, who will serve as the play-by-play commentator for Saturday’s game. “I am truly excited to represent the Filipino community by commentating in Tagalog. This opportunity brings pride to our language and culture, and reflects our deep love for the sport of basketball. It is a significant achievement and I am grateful to be part of it,” added Abejo, who will provide analysis as the game’s colour commentator. The CEBL’s seventh season started in May and has already seen record-breaking crowds in various venues across the league, which features 10 teams across six provinces ranging as far east as Montréal to Vancouver as the league’s westernmost team. Vancouver sits tied for first place atop the CEBL standings, boasting an 8-3 record. “Basketball is a unifying force and today, we’re proud to speak the language of one of Canada’s most passionate communities. Launching the first-ever Tagalog broadcast in CEBL history is a celebration of culture, connection, and belonging,” said Dylan Kular, team president of the Vancouver Bandits. “The Filipino community has been part of our Bandits family since day one, and this milestone is our way of saying salamat po for their unwavering support.” The highly anticipated June 28th game will feature various in-game entertainment and production activations designed to showcase the music, fashion, culture and cuisine of the Philippines, including the debut of a special jersey and logo created by fashion designer Edmond Santelices. A percentage of proceeds from each jersey and t-shirt sold will be donated to the United Way BC KAPWA STRONG Fund and Canadian Red Cross 2025 Vancouver Lapu Lapu Festival Appeal. Adult and youth sizes of the jersey and logo t-shirt are available exclusively online or in-store at ATO Basketball Merchants . ###  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 Langley Events Centre (LEC).
June 25, 2025
The St. John, NB forward has played 47 career CEBL games between Saskatchewan, and Guelph since 2022
June 25, 2025
The Bandits franchise leader in points (730) and rebounds (301) returns for a third season with the club
By Myles Dichter June 24, 2025
Through seven weeks of CEBL action and with seven more to go, now seems like the ideal time to reset where things are at as the 2025 campaign nears the halfway mark. Here’s where each team sits, ranked by record: Calgary Surge (8-3, first in West) Next three games: Thursday at SSK, July 3 at BHB, July 6 at EDM The Surge may just be the title favourites after beating the reigning Western Conference champion Vancouver Bandits for a second time last week. Led by newcomer Greg Brown III and veteran Sean Miller-Moore, the Surge have warped into a force in the first year under former NBA head coach Kaleb Canales. Despite sitting second leaguewide in offence, Calgary has made just 30.2 per cent of its three-pointers, showing they still have room to grow. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the league. Vancouver Bandits (8-3, second in West) Next three games: Saturday vs. SSK, July 1 vs. SSS, July 6 vs. BHB For the first time all season, Vancouver has lost consecutive games, falling to Winnipeg and Calgary. But count the Bandits out at your own peril — Kyle Julius’s squad leads the league in points scored and points allowed per game, and it’s outscored its opponents by a whopping 136 points through 11 games. When the Bandits win, they win big. And, powered by a three-headed monster in Mitch Creek (23.7 points per game), Tyrese Samuel (10.5 rebounds per game) and Shamar Givance (6.3 assists per game), they win a lot, too. Niagara River Lions (7-4, first in East) Next three games: Sunday at BHB, July 4 vs. WPG, July 6 at MTL The reigning champs may find themselves in a tier below the two Western powers, having shown flashes of last season’s brilliance while battling some inconsistency. Yet there’s reason to believe Niagara is just rounding into form with the recent return of point guard Jahvon Blair. Khalil Ahmad, as usual, has been Niagara’s Lion King, averaging 23 points per contest. Montreal Alliance (5-4, second in East) Next three games : Saturday at OTT, July 1 at EDM, July 3 at SSK Hold on tight if you want to follow the Alliance. A revamped Montreal squad burst out of the gates with four straight wins, only to lose their next four and fall back to .500. But Quebec’s team righted the ship against Saskatchewan in its last game and point guard Tavian Dunn-Martin continues to be one of the most fun players to watch in the league. Scarborough Shooting Stars (6-5, third in East) Next three games: Friday at WPG, Sunday at EDM, July 1 at VAN Another team that started strong, Scarborough is just 3-5 since its 3-0 start. But the Shooting Stars are feeling good at the moment following a 32-point drubbing of the River Lions on Saturday without leading scorer Donovan Williams (25.5 points per game). In his absence, Scarborough touted a balanced attack — and if it meets Niagara come playoff time, it should have the edge in confidence. Edmonton Stingers (6-6, third in West) Next three games: Sunday vs. SSS, July 1 vs. MTL, July 6 vs. Calgary The Stingers may just be rounding into form, having won four of their past five and snapping Winnipeg’s four-game win streak along the way. Sean East II has been a revelation at point guard, averaging 23.5 points per game on 50 per cent shooting from beyond the arc, while CEBL vet Scottie Lindsey and big man Keon Ambrose-Hylton have provided the secondary boost. Winnipeg Sea Bears (5-6, fourth in West) Next three games: Friday vs. SSS, July 1 at OTT, July 4 at NRL It turns out that Jalen Harris and Simi Shittu are pretty good ballers. The duo sparked a Sea Bears turnaround upon joining the Manitoba team a couple weeks ago, leading Winnipeg to a four-game win streak that fell one shy of setting a franchise record. Shittu is averaging a massive 23.5-point, 10.5-rebound double-double in four games, while Harris continues to be a scoring threat all over the court. Ottawa BlackJacks (4-6, fourth in East) Next three games: Saturday vs. MTL, July 1 vs. WPG, July 5 at SSK The real BlackJacks have just stood up. Ottawa welcomed Zane Waterman and Keevan Veinot into the fold over the past three games, juicing a lineup that had scuffled in the early part of the season. The new blood has done wonders in the nation’s capital with two straight wins, and Saturday’s game against the Alliance should be another good test. Brampton Honey Badgers (3-8, fifth in East) Next three games: Sunday vs. NRL, July 3 vs. CGY, July 6 at VAN Those Honey Badgers are scrappy. With two straight wins before Sunday’s loss to Ottawa, Brampton showed it wouldn’t just accept its spot in the Eastern Conference basement, and now sits just 1.5 games back of the BlackJacks for a playoff spot. It’s still an uphill battle for Sheldon Cassimy’s troops, but leading scorer Quinndary Weatherspoon (17.8 points, 5.8 assists) has shown he is up for the challenge. Saskatchewan Rattlers (2-9, fifth in West) Next three games: Thursday vs. CGY, Saturday at VAN, July 3 vs. MTL The Rattlers will need a swift turnaround if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive in a punishing Western Conference where they already trail fourth-place Winnipeg by three games. Oddly, Saskatchewan’s two wins are against Calgary and Niagara, and its past two losses have come by a combined six points. It doesn’t get any easier from here, though, with the Surge and Bandits up next. Weekly schedule (Six games) Game #56 -- Thursday, June 26 - CGY at SSK – 7:30 p.m. CST/MT / 9:30 p.m. ET – SaskTel Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #57 – Friday, June 27 – SSS at WPG – 7:30 p.m. CDT / 8:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #58 – Saturday, June 28 – MTL at OTT – 3 p.m. ET – The Arena at TD Place (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #59 – Saturday, June 28 – SSK at VAN – 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. CST / 10 p.m. ET – Langley Events Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Game #60 – Sunday, June 29 – NRL at BHB – 2 p.m. ET – CAA Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Game #61 – Sunday, June 29 – SSS at EDM – 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET – Edmonton EXPO Centre (Game+, CEBL+, TSN+) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .
By Myles Dichter June 24, 2025
Après sept semaines d’action dans la LECB et avec encore sept autres à venir, le moment est bien choisi pour faire un point sur la situation alors que la saison 2025 approche de sa mi-parcours. Voici où chaque équipe se situe, classée selon sa fiche : Le Surge de Calgary (8-3, premiers dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : jeudi à SSK, 3 juillet à BHB, 6 juillet à EDM Le Surge pourrait bien être le favori pour le titre après avoir battu les Bandits de Vancouver, champions en titre de la Conférence de l’Ouest, pour une deuxième fois la semaine dernière. Menés par le nouveau venu Greg Brown III et le vétéran Sean Miller-Moore, le Surge s’est transformé en véritable puissance sous la gouverne de Kaleb Canales, ancien entraîneur-chef dans la NBA. Même en étant deuxièmes de la ligue pour l’attaque, Calgary ne réussit que 30,2 % de ses tirs de trois points, preuve qu’il leur reste encore une marge de progression. Une pensée qui donne froid dans le dos au reste de la ligue. Les Bandits de Vancouver (8-3, deuxièmes dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : samedi c. SSK, 1er juillet c. SSS, 6 juillet c. BHB Pour la première fois cette saison, les Bandits ont subi deux défaites consécutives, contre Winnipeg et Calgary. Mais attention à ne pas les enterrer trop vite — l’équipe de Kyle Julius mène la ligue en points marqués et en points alloués par match, avec une différence cumulative de +136 après 11 rencontres. Quand Vancouver gagne, c’est souvent avec éclat. Portés par leur trio dominant composé de Mitch Creek (23,7 points par match), Tyrese Samuel (10,5 rebonds) et Shamar Givance (6,3 passes décisives), les Bandits gagnent aussi souvent. Les River Lions de Niagara (7-4, premiers dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : dimanche à BHB, 4 juillet c. WPG, 6 juillet à MTL Les champions en titre se retrouvent peut-être un cran en dessous des deux puissances de l’Ouest, eux qui ont montré par moments l’éclat de leur saison dernière, tout en luttant avec une certaine irrégularité. Cela dit, tous les signes laissent croire que Niagara est en train de trouver son rythme, avec le retour récent du meneur Jahvon Blair. Comme à son habitude, Khalil Ahmad règne sur le terrain — le véritable roi lion des River Lions — avec une moyenne de 23 points par match. L’Alliance de Montréal (5-4, deuxièmes dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : samedi à OTT, 1er juillet à EDM, 3 juillet à SSK Accrochez-vous si vous voulez suivre l’Alliance. Ce nouvel alignement montréalais a commencé la saison en force avec quatre victoires de suite, avant d’encaisser quatre défaites et de retomber à une fiche de ,500. Mais l’équipe du Québec a redressé la barre face à la Saskatchewan lors de son dernier match, et le meneur Tavian Dunn-Martin continue d’être l’un des joueurs les plus électrisants de la ligue. Les Shooting Stars de Scarborough (6-5, troisièmes dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : vendredi à WPG, dimanche à EDM, 1er juillet à VAN Une autre équipe qui a commencé fort : Scarborough montre une fiche de 3-5 depuis un départ parfait de 3-0. Mais les Shooting Stars sont en confiance après avoir écrasé Niagara par 32 points samedi dernier, et ce, sans leur meilleur marqueur Donovan Williams (25,5 points par match). En son absence, l’équipe a misé sur une attaque équilibrée — un bon signe si elle recroise Niagara en séries. Les Stingers d’Edmonton (6-6, troisièmes dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : dimanche c. SSS, 1er juillet c. MTL, 6 juillet c. Calgary Les Stingers semblent trouver leur rythme, avec quatre victoires à leurs cinq derniers matchs, incluant une fin de série de quatre gains pour Winnipeg. Sean East II s’impose comme une révélation au poste de meneur avec une moyenne de 23,5 points par match, réussissant 50 % de ses tirs de trois points. Le vétéran Scottie Lindsey et le centre Keon Ambrose-Hylton apportent aussi un soutien précieux. Les Sea Bears de Winnipeg (5-6, quatrièmes dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : vendredi c. SSS, 1er juillet à OTT, 4 juillet à NRL Il s’avère que Jalen Harris et Simi Shittu savent jouer au ballon. Le duo a complètement relancé les Sea Bears depuis son arrivée il y a quelques semaines, menant l’équipe à une séquence de quatre victoires, à une seule du record de la franchise. Shittu affiche une moyenne impressionnante de 23,5 points et 10,5 rebonds — un doublé digne de mention. Quant à Harris, il représente une menace offensive constante partout sur le terrain. Les BlackJacks d’Ottawa (4-6, quatrièmes dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : samedi c. MTL, 1er juillet c. WPG, 5 juillet à SSK Les vrais BlackJacks semblent enfin s’être manifestés. Ottawa a intégré Zane Waterman et Keevan Veinot à son effectif lors des trois derniers matchs, apportant un nouvel élan à un alignement qui avait du mal à trouver son rythme en début de saison. Ce sang neuf a permis deux victoires consécutives dans la capitale nationale, et le match de samedi contre l’Alliance s’annonce comme un autre bon test. Les Honey Badgers de Brampton (3-8, cinquièmes dans l’Est) Prochains matchs : dimanche c. NRL, 3 juillet c. CGY, 6 juillet à VAN Ces Honey Badgers ont du mordant. Avec deux victoires de suite avant la défaite de dimanche contre Ottawa, Brampton a prouvé qu’il ne comptait pas simplement accepter sa place au bas du classement de l’Est. L’équipe n’est qu’à 1,5 match des BlackJacks pour une place en séries. C’est une route difficile qui attend les hommes de Sheldon Cassimy, mais le meilleur marqueur de l’équipe, Quinndary Weatherspoon (17,8 points, 5,8 passes décisives), semble prêt à relever le défi. Les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan (2-9, cinquièmes dans l’Ouest) Prochains matchs : jeudi vs CGY, samedi à VAN, 3 juillet c. MTL Les Rattlers devront rapidement redresser la situation s’ils veulent conserver un espoir de séries dans une Conférence de l’Ouest impitoyable, ayant déjà trois matchs de retard sur les Sea Bears. Fait étrange, leurs deux victoires cette saison sont venues contre Calgary et Niagara. Leurs deux dernières défaites se sont jouées à six points combinés. Mais la suite ne s’annonce pas plus facile avec Calgary et Vancouver à l’horizon. Calendrier hebdomadaire (six matchs) Match #56 – Jeudi 26 juin – CGY à SSK – 19 h 30 HC/HR / 21 h 30 HE – SaskTel Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Match #57 – Vendredi 27 juin – SSS à WPG – 19 h 30 HAC / 20 h 30 HE – Canada Life Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Match #58 – Samedi 28 juin – MTL à OTT – 15 h HE – The Arena at TD Place (CEBL+, TSN+) Match #59 – Samedi 28 juin – SSK à VAN – 19 h HP / 20 h HC / 22 h HE – Langley Events Centre (CEBL+, TSN+) Match #60 – Dimanche 29 juin – NRL à BHB – 14 h HE – CAA Centre (CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Match #61 – Dimanche 29 juin – SSS à EDM – 16 h HR / 18 h HE – Edmonton EXPO Centre (Game+, CEBL+, TSN+) Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB, visitez le cebl.ca/games .
June 24, 2025
The Vancouver Bandits proudly unveiled Monday a new logo and alternate jersey celebrating Filipino culture, designed in collaboration with fashion designer Edmond Santelices and Filipino BC. The custom, hand-drawn jersey and logo will be worn for the first time during the club's second-annual Filipino Celebration Game, presented by Westland Insurance, Guildford Town Centre and Fix Auto, which will be hosted on Saturday, June 28, when the Bandits host the Saskatchewan Rattlers at Langley Events Centre. A percentage of proceeds of each jersey and logo t-shirt sold will be donated to the United Way BC KAPWA STRONG Fund and Canadian Red Cross 2025 Vancouver Lapu Lapu Festival Appeal . Adult and youth sizes of the jersey and logo t-shirt are available exclusively online or in-store at ATO Basketball Merchants in Langley. “The jersey and logo celebrates community and shows that Filipino people are strong. It creates a sense of belonging,” said Santelices, who is the founder of Vancouver-based apparel manufacturing company ES Fashion Design Studio and fashion brand Varsant . “When I grew up in the Philippines, people would just play around the basketball court; it is all about family gathering together, enjoying their time and playing a sport that we all love.” “When it came to designing the jersey and logo, I really wanted to go back to our roots. I wanted to know the original people of the Philippines and how we used to classify ourselves. Many of the details are inspired by the different types of indigenous Filipino tattoos.” Santelices’ hand drawn logo conveys cultural significance and features depictions of prominent animals in Filipino folklore, including crocodile teeth, snake tongues, and scorpions. Additional cultural references incorporated within the logo include imagery of a "Vinta," a traditional Philippine sailing vessel, and a red bandana emblazoned across the emblem which serves as a homage to Filipino folk hero, Lapu Lapu. The reimagined jersey utilizes a colourway of red, yellow and blue, the national colours of the Philippines, and features a distinct side panel design. Continuing to draw inspiration from Indigenous Filipino tattoo motifs, the detailed pattern embodies themes of love, family and unity. Furthermore, the country's iconic sun symbol is prominently showcased in a repeating pattern around the uniform. “This jersey and logo is more than just a uniform - it is a celebration of culture, community and connection. The Filipino community has played a major role in shaping the energy and heartbeat of Bandits Basketball and this jersey is a tribute to their passion, pride and love for the game,” said Dylan Kular, team president of Vancouver Bandits. “We’re proud to wear the colours not only as a symbol of representation, but as a commitment to creating space and opportunity for Filipino youth, families and leaders to feel seen, celebrated and empowered.” The jersey will also honour the victims and those affected by the tragic events that occurred following the Lapu-vLapu Day Festival, which took place in Vancouver on April 26, 2025. A black stripe will be worn across the top left shoulder of the jersey and feature the word “KAPWA” displayed prominently, a term that describes the Filipino experience of community, interconnectedness and shared humanity. “Our love of basketball extends beyond just the game, this sport has had the power to bring us closer to our community through celebrations, losses and even now in times of grief,” said RJ Aquino, Chair of Filipino BC. “We are grateful to the Vancouver Bandits for honouring those we’ve lost and for making space for those affected to gather and heal.” Back by popular demand, the highly anticipated June 28th game will include various in-game entertainment and production activations designed to showcase the music, fashion, culture and cuisine of the Philippines, including a pre-game buffet featuring a Filipino-inspired menu, a pregame dance performance by PhilCAS of BC and halftime performance by Filipino-Canadian R&B artist Mikey Jose. Tickets for the game are on sale now at this link . ### 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 Langley Events Centre (LEC).
By Myles Dichter June 23, 2025
With team royalty in the building, the Edmonton Stingers showed championship-level resolve. The Stingers weathered a first-quarter storm to beat the Winnipeg Sea Bears 98-85 on Sunday at Edmonton Expo Centre. Prior to the game, longtime Stinger Brody Clarke — who retired after last season — was inducted to the team’s Ring of Honour. Former teammate Xavier Moon, a two-time champion and three-time MVP with the Stingers, was also in attendance for the celebration. And Edmonton’s response to an early deficit might have made them proud. “Resilience is one of our core values and us being able to figure things out when things don’t go our way is part of battling adversity,” Stingers forward Nick Hornsby said. Edmonton was punched in the mouth during the opening 10 minutes as the streaking Sea Bears raced to a 27-19 lead. But the Stingers got off the mat, regained the lead early in the second and never looked back from there. By the time the clocks turned off for Target Score Time, the Stingers led 89-75. While the Sea Bears showed some fight, the deficit ultimately proved too much to overcome. Nick Horsnby ended the proceedings after drawing a shooting foul, making his first free throw to clinch the game. The Stingers moved to 6-6 win the win, while the Sea Bears fell to 5-6 as their four-game winning streak was snapped. Edmonton has now won four of its past five games. “The vibes are high but we’re not satisfied. We’re always longing for that next game and ready to play and get that next win,” Hornsby said. Head coach Jordan Baker added that he was happy with his team’s response after its slow start. “We’re not gonna get too high getting up 10 or 15 and we’re not gonna get too low, so understanding that we’re gonna stick to our stuff,” he said. “I might have to scream at them in a timeout, but they responded very well tonight.” Hornsby, who is in his third year with the Stingers, recorded 17 points, six assists and five rebounds in the win. Sean East II led the Stingers with 27 points while also adding eight rebounds and seven assists. Forward Keon Ambrose-Hylton neared a double-double with 19 points and eight rebounds. But it’s Hornsby who has taken the torch as a Stingers leader in the absence of the likes of Clarke and Moon. The 30-year-old from Irvine, Calif., has quickly made Edmonton his CEBL home. “Too comfortable. I love it here. I enjoy talking to the fans in the off-season and almost a second home, really. It’s great coming back,” he said. The sentiment is still shared by Moon to this day. “It was a huge stepping stone for me getting to the NBA,” he told the broadcast after the game. “Great fanbase here, band of brothers that I’ll have for a lifetime, and the city — I can’t even put it into words.” Luck may have been on Edmonton’s side in its latest win as the Stingers twice beat the buzzer with three-point heaves. Hornsby launched one from halfcourt ahead of the shot clock expiring during a second-quarter possession, and Isiah Osborne added a triple of his own from the wing at the third-quarter horn. Edmonton’s Aaron Rhooms was away from the team as he competes for Canada at the 3x3 World Cup in Mongolia. Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s strong run of play was halted seemingly as soon as the first quarter turned into the second. Head coach Mike Taylor pointed to “readiness” as one of the reasons for the team’s winning streak coming to an end. “You could see us be a little casual with the ball offensively. … We gave up too many points off of those turnovers, we didn’t get very much bench production,” Taylor said. “Our team’s been on a great streak, I’m really proud of the guys, but we’ve gotta work for consistency.” Canada’s Simi Shittu led the Sea Bears with a game-high 30 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Harris contributed 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. Harris said his team may just have been tired at the end of a road trip that also included a win over Vancouver on Friday. “We just gotta refocus on ourselves. We got a few days in between the next game and that’s kind of our mindset each game, focusing on ourselves — how can we be better? — and doing that moving forward,” he said. Taylor added that the Stingers out-hustled his squad — especially in the middle two quarters. “They beat us to all the loose balls and they did the little things, the physical things that give you an advantage,” he said. The Stingers’ win capped a wild Sunday across the CEBL, which saw all 10 teams play on the same day for just the second time ever. Earlier, Scarborough crushed Niagara, Ottawa beat Brampton, Montreal edged Saskatchewan and Calgary downed Vancouver. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600617 Up Next Winnipeg returns home to face the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Friday while Edmonton has a week off before it hosts the Scarborough next Sunday. Next CEBL Action After five games Sunday, every team has a bit of a break before the Calgary Surge visit the Saskatchewan Rattlers on Thursday. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -
By Alex Lough June 22, 2025
Dans un match qui a confirmé que le basketball est bel et bien un sport de séquences, l’Alliance de Montréal a tenu bon en fin de rencontre pour mettre fin à une série de quatre défaites consécutives grâce à un gain de 93-89 face aux Rattlers de la Saskatchewan. Ce sont les visiteurs qui ont connu le meilleur départ, alors que Grant Anticevich a marqué les huit premiers points de son équipe, donnant une avance de 16-8 aux Rattlers avant le premier temps mort. Le grand Australien a terminé le match avec 14 points et huit rebonds. Les Rattlers ont même creusé l’écart jusqu’à 10 points (25-15), avant qu’une poussée de 15-3 de Montréal au deuxième quart — conclue par un panier de Ben Stevens — ne donne aux locaux leur première avance du match. Saskatchewan a répliqué avec une séquence de 11-4, mais l’Alliance a repris le contrôle grâce à un autre élan de 12-2, pour rentrer au vestiaire avec une avance de 48-44 dans ce qui restera l’une des premières demies les plus folles de la saison dans la LECB. « C’était un match complètement fou, vraiment dramatique », a déclaré l’entraîneur-chef de l’Alliance, Jermaine Small, après la rencontre. « Mais tu sais quoi? J’en ai vécu d’autres comme ça. Il faut juste trouver une façon de gagner, et c’est ce qu’on a fait. » « Ça fait du bien. On avait gagné nos quatre premiers matchs, puis perdu les quatre suivants… un vrai tour de montagnes russes émotives. Mais je pense qu’on est en bonne posture et j’espère qu’on pourra bâtir là-dessus. » « L’objectif, évidemment, c’est de gagner chaque match — mais honnêtement, c’est surtout de continuer à progresser. Mi-juillet, on veut être à notre sommet. Chaque match, on ajoute une brique. Et on espère construire quelque chose de spécial. On a intégré un nouveau joueur aujou rd’hui, on essaie de l’impliquer… et on a déjà vu son expérience ressortir dans plusieurs aspects du jeu. On veut continuer à construire. » Ce nouveau joueur, c’est le vétéran pivot O.D. Anosike, âgé de 34 ans, avec une vaste expérience dans plusieurs grandes ligues européennes. Il a immédiatement fait sentir sa présence dans son premier match avec Montréal, terminant la rencontre avec 13 points, 10 rebonds et 4 passes décisives en sortie de banc. Il s’est dit impressionné par ses nouveaux coéquipiers, et surtout, par l’ambiance. « L’atmosphère, l’énergie des partisans… c’était incroyable », a-t-il dit. « Ça va nous aider, surtout qu’on a un jeune groupe. Quand on tirait de l’arrière en début de match, ils sont restés avec nous. Quand on était en avance, ils étaient encore là. Ils nous ont poussés. » « Sur le terrain, c’est une jeune équipe. Je suis de loin le plus vieux. Alors oui, on va vivre des hauts et des bas. C’est normal avec la jeunesse. Mais j’étais fier de la résilience du groupe. On a encaissé les coups, on est revenus, et ça donne confiance à tout le monde. » Quincy Guerrier a mené l’Alliance avec 20 points et huit rebonds, tandis que Tavian Dunn-Martin a ajouté 15 points et cinq passes décisives. En comptant les contributions d’Anosike, le banc a marqué 42 points au total. Abdul Mohamed a connu son meilleur match en carrière dans la LECB avec 15 points et six rebonds, alors que Malcolm Duvivier a inscrit 11 points, dont trois tirs de trois points, portant son total en carrière dans la ligue à 151. La deuxième demie a été tout aussi intense que la première, mais plus physique, alors que les deux formations cherchaient à s’imposer. Montréal a pris une avance de 57-51, mais une autre séquence des Rattlers leur a permis de repasser devant 64-63 avant d’amorcer le dernier quart. Une poussée en fin de match de l’Alliance a donné une avance de 83-78 à l’approche de la période du pointage cible. Dans une fin de match serrée, les Rattlers ont eu une chance de l’emporter, mais Devonte Bandoo, nouvellement arrivé, a raté un tir de trois points dans le coin. Montréal a capté le rebond et inscrit le panier décisif de l’autre côté. C’est une autre sortie difficile pour les Rattlers, qui tombent à une fiche de 2-9. Ils ont peiné à égaler la vitesse et l’intensité physique de Montréal, terminant la première demie avec un déficit de 14-0 au chapitre des points sur contre-attaque. « Ils ont fait du bon travail pour nous attaquer à l’intérieur », a commenté l’entraîneur-chef des Rattlers, Eric Magdanz. « Ils jouent avec beaucoup d’intensité défensive. De notre côté, je pense qu’on a bien déplacé le ballon et créé de bons tirs. Mais parfois, le basketball se joue à quelques centimètres, et ils ont eu le dernier mot. » « Je suis extrêmement fier de mon équipe cette saison pour la manière dont elle affronte l’adversité. Ils sont aguerris. On a des leaders sur le terrain, et même quand ça tourne mal, ils trouvent une façon de résister et d’obtenir les jeux importants. Mon travail, c’est de les placer dans les meilleures conditions possibles. » Bandoo a été le meilleur marqueur du match avec 23 points et 8 rebonds. Nate Pierre-Louis a enregistré un doublé avec 10 points et 10 passes décisives, tandis que Anthony Tsegakele a mené les remplaçants avec 12 points, son sommet de la saison. L’ancien de l’Alliance, Jordan Bowden, faisait son retour à Montréal pour la première fois dans l’uniforme adverse. Il a terminé avec 21 points, quatre rebonds et trois passes décisives. Malgré la défaite, il s’est dit fier de l’effort de ses coéquipiers. « J’ai eu quelques poussées d’adrénaline aujourd’hui », a confié Bowden. « Mais on savait qu’ils allaient se battre. Montréal veut toujours défendre son terrain. On savait qu’ils seraient prêts, et moi aussi, je devais l’être. » Sur la suite de la saison : « Il faut retourner à la table à dessin, regarder la vidéo. Oui, c’est frustrant, mais il faut continuer à progresser. Je pense qu’on va dans la bonne direction. Notre fiche ne le montre peut-être pas, mais on a des guerriers dans l’équipe. Et on sait qu’on peut rivaliser avec n’importe qui. » Feuille de match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600615 À venir pour les deux équipes L’Alliance de Montréal amorcera un voyage de trois matchs à l’extérieur en rendant visite aux BlackJacks d’Ottawa le 28 juin. De leur côté, les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan seront de retour à la maison pour accueillir le Surge de Calgary le 26 juin. Prochains matchs dans la LECB La ligue fera une pause de trois jours après l’horaire chargé de dimanche, puis l’action reprendra le 26 juin alors que les Rattlers de la Saskatchewan accueilleront le Surge de Calgary. Le match sera diffusé sur CEBL+ et TSN+. Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les résultats à jour, visitez le site cebl.ca/games . - LECB -
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