It’s more than just a basketball game - there’s a festival this weekend, ahead of the court action between the Vancouver Bandits and Saskatchewan Rattlers.
The Langley-based professional basketball team is hosting a seven-hour BC Basketball Festival ahead of the 7 p.m. tipoff at Langley Events Centre on Saturday.
Granville Flea is “spicing up” the game day experience with a 12 to 7 p.m. free “vintage” market featuring about 15 vendors, music, and food. It runs before the game in the parking lot outside Gate 2.
Following the market, the Bandits will host a rematch against the Rattlers, who defeated them earlier in the season.
This Saturday (June 17th, 7pm) Bandits return to LEC. Two BIG road wins in a row (including last night) and the guys are working their way back home! Less than 200 tickets are left for Saturday I understand-it will sell out so get tickets now! Go BANDITS!!!! @vancitybandits https://t.co/nPiJCYxH9i
— SluzCap (@SluzCap) June 15, 2023
The Bandits are looking to make a push up the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) standings during this weekend’s game, with the help of recently signed Shaquille Keith and 2022 team-leading scorer Shane Gibson making his home debut.
Keith is the newest member to re-join the Bandits. The announcement that this 6 ft. 5 in. guard from Toronto was returning came Wednesday, just hours before he took to the court in Calgary to help beat the Surge.
A former Cape Breton University Caper, Keith’s professional career has charted the globe. His most recent stop during the 2022-23 season was with BC Prienai in Lithuania’s National Basketball League.
Keith has suited up in each of the CEBL’s five seasons; including a championship season with the Saskatchewan Rattlers (2019), as well as stints with the Ottawa BlackJacks (2020), Bandits (2021), and Newfoundland Growlers (2022).
During his 2021 campaign with the Bandits, Keith suited up in 13 of a possible 14 regular season games. He was back wearing his Bandits colours Wednesday when the team took down the Surge 82-77.
In that game, Giorgi Bezhanishvili was credited with scoring 27 of those points, while Nick Ward earned 13 points – the second most by any Bandits player despite him only playing 16 minutes due to injury. Malcolm Duvivier also contributed by way of his nine points and nine rebounds.
This Saturday (June 17th, 7pm) Bandits return to LEC. Two BIG road wins in a row (including last night) and the guys are working their way back home! Less than 200 tickets are left for Saturday I understand-it will sell out so get tickets now! Go BANDITS!!!! @vancitybandits https://t.co/nPiJCYxH9i
— SluzCap (@SluzCap) June 15, 2023
READ ALSO: Highlight to Bandits’ season will be hosting 2023 Championship Weekend
A highlight of the Bandit’s fifth CEBL campaign will be hosting Championship Weekend,which takes place between Friday to Sunday, Aug. 11 to 13, featuring three games of playoff basketball as part of a multi-day festival experience to celebrate the intersection of arts, culture, and sport.
As hosts of Championship Weekend, the Bandits receive an automatic semifinal berth.
Tickets for the fifth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase and can be accessed by clicking here, or by call 604-455-8881, or emailing tickets@thebandits.ca.
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