Surge Ride Dominant Third Quarter to Win Over Sea Bears

While it wasn’t with a title on the line this time, Vancouver still managed to exact a measure of revenge on Thursday. The Bandits beat the defending champion River Lions 109-72 at the Langley Events Centre, flipping the script in a rematch of last year’s final while handing Niagara its first loss of the season. Leading Vancouver (2-0) to a home-opening win was Kyle Mangas, who finished with a game-high 28 points on 5-of-9 shooting from distance. It was an all-around effort for the import guard as he also chipped in 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Curtis Hollis also did his part for the Bandits as he racked up 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the pine, while Tyrese Samuel notched his second consecutive double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds to go with a game-high four blocks. “We had a bit of a sluggish start, but from there it was off to the races,” Mangas said during his on-court interview post-game. “It could be anyone’s night … you never know who it’s gonna be, we have a lot of weapons.” On the other side, Niagara (2-1) was helmed by Guillaume Boucard, who put up his own double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. The 2019 Canadian Player of the Year made a bit of history as well, his lone steal of the contest bringing him to 100 all-time for his CEBL career (regular season + playoffs). Boucard joined Khalil Ahmad as the only players in league history to reach that milestone. The forward, who previously spent three seasons in Niagara (2019-2021), re-joined the River Lions this year after spending 2024 with his hometown Montreal Alliance. “Guillaume is just a complete competitor,” Niagara head coach Victor Raso said. “He defends … you always know you’re going to get 100 per cent from Guillaume, he’s about as plug and play as you can find in this league.” Right behind Boucard was Antonio Davis Jr., who added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting off the bench, while River Lions captain Kimbal Mackenzie and Keyshawn Bryant chipped in 11 points each. What was shaping up as a tightly-contested affair after 10 minutes — the River Lions led 20-17 at the end of the first — quickly broke open in the second quarter thanks to a pair of 7-0 Bandits runs. Vancouver ended up outsourcing Niagara 30-17 in the frame and went into halftime with the game’s first double-digit lead, up 47-37. The Bandits' first-half success came in part thanks to their dominance on the glass, racking up a 31-18 rebounding edge at the break while grabbing 15 offensive boards (plus-eight) for 14 second-chance points. They finished the game plus-15 for total rebounds (52-37) and doubled the River Lions' production on the offensive glass (18-9). “Second chances on rebounds kind of changed the momentum,” Boucard said after the game. “We’ve still got to rebound at a championship level … we’ve still got to be physical and set a standard for our defence. Rebounding has been our Achilles (heel) these last three games.” And Vancouver’s lead only grew once action resumed, one-upping its dominance in the second quarter by outscoring Niagara 33-14 in the third. Mangas had his fingerprints all over the victory-sealing stretch as he opened the second half by nailing three consecutive triples as part of a 13-3 Bandits run. He finished the frame with 14 points as his team extended their lead to 80-51. “I just try to stay aggressive at all times,” Mangas said while reflecting on his strong third quarter and first-career CEBL double-double. “I know I’m a good shooter, I put in the work … always try to stay aggressive, because I know that can really help our team.” Vancouver pushed that lead as high as 39 points throughout the final frame, eventually carrying a 99-65 lead into Target Score time. From there, it was Samuel who eventually put the game to bed, sealing the win with a dunk off a no-look bounce pass from Shamar Givance, who finished with 10 assists. The Bandits couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, picking up back-to-back dominant victories. They opened their 2025 campaign with a record-setting 40-point win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers last week, only to follow that up with an equally impressive 37-point rout of the defending champs. And while the rosters may not have been all that similar to last year’s title game, make no mistake, it was a rematch Vancouver took personally. “We’ve been hearing about Niagara and just the battle the Bandits had last year with (the River Lions), so we had a chip on our shoulders tonight,” Mangas said. Thursday’s victory at the Langley Events Centre in front of 3,987 fans in attendance also continued a trend of success in that building dating back to 2024. The Bandits started a perfect 6-0 in Vancouver last season and eventually finished with a West-leading 9-1 home record. “I thought it was electric tonight,” Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julis said post-game. “I thought that crowd was fantastic, it looked great, it sounded great, they were really connected to our players.” Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600571 Up next Both teams will return to action on Saturday. Starting with the River Lions visiting the 0-2 Saskatchewan Rattlers to wrap up a three-game road trip, while the Bandits stay put in Vancouver as they’ll host the 1-2 Edmonton Stingers. Next CEBL action The 1-0 Winnipeg Sea Bears and 1-1 Calgary Surge resume action on Friday after both squads were off for a week, picking things back up with a rematch of last year’s West Play-In game. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The Edmonton Stingers prevailed over the Saskatchewan Rattlers in a tight 92-89 contest on Thursday (May 22) to earn their first win of the season. Timely runs and efficient three-point shooting propelled the Stingers to victory in a game in which no team held a lead larger than eight points. Sean East II spearheaded the Stingers’ attack, netting a game-high 27 points that included five triples. The 25-year-old American guard corralled eight rebounds and added two steals as well. “We can always improve, but it's better to improve off a win than a loss,” East said after the game. The duo of former Rattlers Devonté Bandoo and Scottie Lindsey also made a major impact on their old home court at SaskTel Centre. The familiar faces made big shots, with Lindsey hitting the game-winning free throw as part of a 13-point performance. Bandoo contributed 15 points, including three connections from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter and Target Score Time. Bandoo said it felt great to play in front of his former home crowd and it will always be home. “It's always a great feeling, hitting shots ... I think every basketball player loves to see the ball going in, so I'm excited to see [it], especially coming back from injury,” Bandoo said. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan relied heavily on Nate Pierre-Louis and Cody John in the narrow defeat. Pierre-Louis notched the third triple-double in franchise history and seventh in league history, with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. He added a steal and block for good measure. The New Jersey product said hard work off the court is finally showing up. “I wasn't trying to get [a triple-double], I was just trying to win a game. So I'm grateful but I just wish we got the W,” Pierre-Louis said. John also made an immediate impact for the Rattlers in his season debut, putting up a team-high 25 points in the loss. Edmonton head coach Jordan Baker said the team needs to be better the finer details, but he praised the resilience and shot-making down the stretch. “I mean, it seemed like it was much harder than we needed it to be. But credit to Saskatchewan. They played hard, played right to the end, and made some big plays on both ends of the floor,” Baker said. Saskatchewan head coach Eric Magdanz was pleased with the level of competition coming off a 40-point loss in the season opener against Vancouver. “I'm really happy with the response. We challenged them this week about who we want to be this season and they showed up and proved that we're going to be a team to contend with,” he said. The game began with two minutes of scoreless basketball before the Rattlers and Stingers started exchanging blows. Lindsey and Bandoo got on the board early, with Lindsey hitting the 500-point milestone in his CEBL career. Edmonton went on a 9-2 run to snag a six-point lead, but Saskatchewan rallied to head into the second quarter down one. The western squads continued a close battle in the second frame. Elijah Ifejeh showed his prowess on both ends, blocking a mid-range shot on defence before capitalizing with a transition slam to force a Baker timeout. Saskatchewan and Edmonton jostled for the lead throughout the opening 20 minutes, with 10 lead changes and six ties in the first half. A floater and wing three from East late in the frame provided Edmonton with a 40-39 lead entering the locker room. East continued to cook in the third quarter, going on a 10-3 personal run on the Rattlers that extended back to the first half. Saskatchewan made big plays of its own, with a lead-changing three from Chaplin and a massive dunk from Pierre-Louis. However, in his CEBL debut, Cameron McGriff stopped the Rattlers’ momentum after the aforementioned plays, answering with a triple of his own and an and-one after the Pierre-Louis dunk. The Rattlers kept battling, with Isaac Simon scoring six straight points and forcing a travel on the other end to keep it a one-point game after three. An 8-2 Edmonton run early in the fourth that featured triples from East and Bandoo forced a Magdanz timeout. The Stingers weathered each Rattlers’ push prior to Target Score Time, taking an 83-79 lead into the final stretch. John stayed hot for Saskatchewan early in target time, pulling the Rattlers within one point. However, a layup from Lindsey to go along with threes from East and Bandoo put the Stingers one point away from victory. Saskatchewan fought back and had a shot to win— Jamir Chaplin’s three hit back rim —before Lindsey drew a foul and sealed the game at the line. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600570 Up next for both teams Both teams are back in action on Saturday (May 24) as Saskatchewan continues its homestand to open the season against the defending champion Niagara River Lions, while Edmonton visits Vancouver. Next CEBL action The Calgary Surge visit the Winnipeg Sea Bears in a Western Conference battle tomorrow (May 23). For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

La Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB) et l’Alliance de Montréal ont annoncé jeudi que l’événement historique Éclipse : Match sous les étoiles, initialement prévu le vendredi 23 mai au Stade IGA, est reporté au dimanche 25 mai à 19h30 en raison des conditions météorologiques défavorables. Cet événement marque un tournant historique pour le basketball canadien : il s’agit du tout premier match professionnel de basketball 5x5 en plein air au pays. L’Alliance accueillera les BlackJacks d’Ottawa sous un ciel étoilé au légendaire Stade IGA dimanche soir, avec des diffusions nationales sur TSN et RDS reprogrammées pour refléter le nouvel horaire. « Face aux risques de mauvais temps vendredi et samedi, reporter le match à dimanche garantit une expérience sécuritaire et mémorable pour ce premier match de basketball professionnel extérieur au Canada, permettant à l'événement d'atteindre son plein potentiel », a déclaré Mike Morreale, commissaire et cofondateur de la CEBL. Les amateurs ayant déjà acheté des billets pour le 23 mai verront leurs billets automatiquement honorés pour le match reprogrammé du 25 mai. Des billets supplémentaires demeurent disponibles à partir de 25 $ plus taxes et frais via ticketmaster.ca. Pour les transferts de billets, remboursements et plus d'informations, consultez alliancemontreal.ca/eclipse. « Bien que nous aurions adoré présenter cet événement unique à la date prévue, l'expérience de nos partisans et de nos joueurs reste notre priorité absolue », a souligné Jo-Annie Charbonneau, présidente de l'Alliance de Montréal. « Nous avons hâte de les accueillir dimanche pour une soirée inoubliable alliant basketball, musique et festivités en plein air. » La Classique Estivale de la LECB représente le plus récent événement signature d’une ligue reconnue mondialement pour offrir du basketball professionnel de calibre international de façon spectaculaire. La LECB est devenue la première ligue professionnelle au monde à adopter le système de pointage cible pour tous ses matchs, la première ligue professionnelle canadienne à évoluer selon les règlements FIBA, et propose de nombreux éléments qui rendent le basketball de la LECB particulièrement captivant pour les amateurs et les joueurs d’élite à travers le monde. La septième saison de la LECB bat son plein avec un calendrier de 120 matchs de saison régulière pour la campagne 2025 , menant aux séries éliminatoires qui débuteront le 14 août. Le week-end du Championnat , qui réunira les quatre meilleures équipes de la saison régulière, se déroulera au Canada Life Centre de Winnipeg du 22 au 24 août. Des informations supplémentaires sur les billets pour tous les matchs de la LECB sont disponibles sur cebl.ca/fr-ca/tickets . À propos de la LECB Ligue créée par des Canadiens pour des Canadiens avec la mission de developer des joueurs, des entraîneurs, des dirigeants sportifs et des arbitres canadiens, la LECB affiche le plus haut pourcentage de joueurs canadiens parmi toutes les ligues professionnelles au pays, avec 73 % de ses effectifs composés de Canadiens, et plus de 10 joueurs ayant déjà disputé des matchs dans la NBA en 2025. Les joueurs viennent également de la NBA G League, des meilleures ligues professionnelles internationales, du programme de l'équipe nationale canadienne, des programmes de la NCAA, ainsi que de U SPORTS et de l’ACSC. Plus de 20 joueurs ont signé des contrats de la NBA après une saison de la LECB et de nombreux joueurs de la LECB participent chaque année à des camps d'entraînement de la NBA G League. La saison de la LECB se déroule de mai à août et les matchs sont diffusés en direct sur CEBL+ optimisé par Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS , Game+ , et Next Level Sports & Entertainment . De plus amples informations sur la LECB sont disponibles sur CEBL.ca/fr-ca et via @cebleague sur Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook et YouTube . À propos de l’Alliance de Montréal L’Alliance de Montréal est une équipe de basketball professionnelle évoluant dans la Ligue élite canadienne de basketball (LECB) depuis 2022. Sous la présidence de Jo-Annie Charbonneau et la direction générale de Joel Anthony, double champion de la NBA, l’Alliance entamera sa quatrième saison en mai 2025. En janvier 2025, l’équipe est passée sous le contrôle d’Alli-Oop Investissements, un groupe de propriétaires 100% montréalais mené par Joel Anthony, aux côtés de Léo Bouisson et Ian-Philip Paul-Hus. L’Alliance, qui a vu deux de ses anciens joueurs signer des contrats NBA et compte dans ses rangs Ahmed Hill, premier joueur de l’histoire de la ligue à atteindre les 1 000 points en carrière, se distingue par son engagement communautaire et le développement du talent local. L’équipe dispute ses matchs à domicile à l’Auditorium de Verdun. Pour plus d’informations, visitez www.alliancemontreal.ca/

Éclipse: Match Sous les Étoiles at IGA Stadium now set for 7:30 p.m. Sunday

Après avoir vu une avance confortable s’envoler lors de la période du pointage cible dans leur match d’ouverture, les BlackJacks d’Ottawa étaient déterminés à ne pas revivre le même scénario. Dans un match rude et physique principalement disputé dans la clef, les BlackJacks ont su tenir bon pour l’emporter 105 à 83, offrant ainsi à l’entraîneur-chef Dave DeAveiro sa première victoire dans la LECB. Isaih Moore a mené les siens en première mi-temps avec 18 points et sept rebonds. Il a terminé la rencontre avec 20 points avant de devoir quitter le terrain en fin de match en raison d’une blessure. Deng Adel a compilé 26 points, cinq rebonds et huit passes décisives, tandis que Justin Jackson a ajouté 13 points en sortie de banc, dont une série de huit points consécutifs pour permettre aux BlackJacks de creuser l’écart en fin lors du quatrième quart. « Je pense que nous sommes restés solides tout au long du match, » a déclaré DeAveiro après la rencontre. « On a eu quelques passages compliqués en fin de match où on a pris de mauvais tirs, ce qui a permis à l’adversaire de réussir un tir à trois points. Notre début de match n’était pas idéal, mais on est restés concentrés et calmes. « Il faut juste croire en ce qu’on fait, » a-t-il ajouté. « Vous allez souvent m’entendre dire “restez solides, continuez à faire ce qu’on pratique à l’entraînement, on ne gagne pas des matchs tout seul.” On a fait quelques ajustements défensifs à la mi-temps et cette fois, ça a fonctionné – ce n’est pas toujours le cas. J’ai trouvé que la défense de Miryne (Thomas) en deuxième mi-temps sur Weatherspoon… Il était en feu en première mi-temps et la défense de Miryne et de (Justin Jackson) l’a épuisé sur la fin. Ces deux gars ont fait un travail remarquable. » Quinndary Weatherspoon, ancien champion de la NBA avec les Warriors de Golden State, a joué comme un véritable champion en inscrivant 29 points (meilleure performance du match) et en effectuant sept passes décisives. L’Américain Will Douglas et le capitaine Koby McEwen ont chacun ajouté 13 points. « C’était une bonne sensation, » a déclaré le vétéran de la NBA à propos de son premier match dans la LECB. « J’essaie juste de reprendre le rythme. Beaucoup de tirs ne sont pas tombés ce soir. Ça vient avec le jeu, il faut retrouver le rythme. J’ai observé de belles actions, simplement en attaquant le panier. On doit être meilleurs collectivement et réduire les pertes de balle. » « Quinndary est l’un des meilleurs joueurs – si ce n’est le meilleur joueur – de la ligue, et je m’attends à ce qu’il joue à ce niveau, » a affirmé l’entraîneur-chef de Brampton, Sheldon Cassimy. « Il a inscrit 29 points, distribué sept passes décisives. Il sait faire circuler le ballon, marquer, défendre… C’est son premier match dans la ligue et je pense qu’il sera encore meilleur à l’avenir. Il apporte de l’expérience et donne le ton pour toute l’équipe. » Le match a été éprouvant, avec 51 des 76 premiers points des BlackJacks inscrits soit dans la clef, soit sur la ligne des lancers francs. Leur avantage de taille a posé problème aux Honey Badgers tout au long de la rencontre : Ottawa a capté 17 rebonds offensifs et forcé 24 pertes de balle chez l’adversaire. Les Honey Badgers menaient à la mi-temps, mais après un début de match impressionnant avec 63 % de réussite au tir, ils n’ont réussi qu’un seul panier lors des sept dernières minutes du troisième quart-temps. Pendant ce temps, Ottawa a converti 7 de ses 13 tirs. Un scénario malheureusement trop familier pour les Honey Badgers, qui n’ont pas battu les BlackJacks à la Place TD depuis 2021.  Fiche du match https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600569 À venir pour les deux équipes Les BlackJacks prendront la route pour la première fois cette saison, direction Montréal via l’autoroute 417, pour affronter l’Alliance de Montréal dans le tout premier match en plein air de la LECB au Stade IGA, le 23 mai. Les Honey Badgers de Brampton joueront leur premier match à domicile le 25 mai en accueillant les Shooting Stars de Scarborough. Prochaine action dans la LECB Les Stingers d’Edmonton se rendront en Saskatchewan pour affronter les Rattlers dans le premier de leurs trois affrontements cette saison. Suivez tous les matchs en direct sur CEBL+ et TSN+. Pour consulter le calendrier complet de la saison 2025 de la LECB et les derniers résultats, visitez cebl.ca/games . - LECB -

After watching a sizeable lead in Target Score Time disappear in their season opener, the Ottawa BlackJacks were determined not to let history repeat itself. In a tough, physical game largely contested in the paint, the BlackJacks were able to prevail and pull out a 105-83 victory, giving head coach Dave DeAveiro his first CEBL win. Isaih Moore led the way for the home team in the first half, piling up 18 points and seven rebounds. He finished with 20 points before being forced to leave late in the game with an injury. Deng Adel finished with 26 points, five rebounds and eight assists, while Justin Jackson added 13 points off the bench, including scoring eight consecutive points to help the BlackJacks pull away late in the fourth quarter. “I think we stayed solid throughout the game,” DeAveiro said following the win. “We had a couple episodes late where we took a bad shot and that led to a three-point shot for them. I know our start wasn’t a great start, but we stayed solid and composed. “We just gotta believe in what we’re doing,” he continued. “You’re going to hear me saying ‘stay solid, keep doing what we’ve been doing in practice, you don’t win games on your own.’ We made a couple of adjustments in the half defensively and this time it worked; they don’t always work. I thought Miryne (Thomas)’s defense in the second half on Weatherspoon… He was on fire in the first half and Miryne’s defense and (Justin Jackson)’s defense wore him out at the end. Those two guys did a tremendous job in the second half.” Quinndary Weatherspoon, a former NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, looked every bit of a former champion as he posted a game high 29 points to go along with seven assists. Fellow import Will Douglas and captain Koby McEwen both added 13 points. “It felt good,” the NBA veteran said of his first game in the CEBL. “I’m just trying to work myself back, get into a rhythm. a lot of shots weren’t falling tonight. I think that just comes with playing and getting in a rhythm. I seen some great things happen, just getting to the backet. We have to be better as a team and cut down on the turnovers.” “Quinndary is one of the top players, if not the top player, in the league – and I expect him to do that,” Brampton head coach Sheldon Cassimy said of his new star point guard. “He had 29 points and seven assists. He’s able to share the ball, he’s able to score it, he’s able to defend… This is his first game in the league and I think he’ll be even better going forward. He brings veteran experience and sets the table for everyone else.” It was a grueling game that saw the BlackJacks score 51 of their first 76 points either in the paint or at the free throw line. Their size was a problem from the Honey Badgers all game, as they finished with 17 offensive rebounds and were able to force their opposition into 24 turnovers. The Honey Badgers led at halftime, but after starting the game hitting 63-percent of their field goals, they were held to just one made basket in the last seven minutes of the third quarter. Ottawa went 7-of-13 during the same stretch. It was an all too familiar sight for the Honey Badgers, who haven’t picked up a win against the BlackJacks at TD Place since 2021. Box Score https://www.cebl.ca/game?id=2600569 Up next for both teams The BlackJacks head on the road for the first time this season as they travel down Highway 417 to meet the Montreal Alliance in the CEBL’s first ever outdoor game at IGA Stadium on May 23. The Brampton Honey Badgers will take to their home court for the first time this season when they welcome the Scarborough Shooting Stars on May 25. Next CEBL action The Edmonton Stingers travel to Saskatchewan to take on the Rattlers in their first of three games this season. Catch all the action streaming live on CEBL+ and TSN+. For the full 2025 CEBL schedule and up-to-date results, please visit cebl.ca/games . - CEBL -

The Toronto native most recently played with the Atlanta Hawks’ NBA G League affiliate

Dorn led the BK Lions Jindřichův Hradec of the Czech League in scoring this past NBL season, averaging 17.7 points per game

Gainey played for Florida State University and Brown University during his college career