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2026-08-03 01:52 UTC → 2026-08-07 22:32 UTC ·
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Vancouver Bandits clinch West lead, win finale advance to Western finals
The Bandits opened After clinching the 2026 CEBL season with a 124‑95 rout of Western Conference title on August 2, the Saskatoon Mamba, highlighted by rookie Jaelen House’s double‑double. A dominant performance at Bandits kept the inaugural Kelowna HOOPFEST (105‑85) and momentum alive with a 104‑95 114‑90 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks, where Jarkel Joiner set a franchise‑record 37 points, kept Vancouver atop the Western Conference. A 94‑88 win over the Winnipeg Sea Bears on June 27 reclaimed the conference lead. After August 3, a brief slip game that also confirmed Stephen Zimmerman’s addition to 9‑6, the roster. Interim head coach Ransford Brempong, who had taken over in early July following Kyle Julius’s departure, guided the team rebounded with through a turbulent stretch that included a 92‑84 loss to the Calgary Surge on July 6, a 92‑85 win over at Saskatoon on July 8 8, and a dramatic 93‑92 comeback against Montreal 95‑80 defeat to Calgary on July 11. The squad rebounded dramatically on July 18, erasing a 22‑point deficit to beat Montreal 93‑92 and securing a seventh straight playoff berth and berth, tying for first in the West at 12‑7. A loss to Montreal The semifinal on July 28 left the Bandits 14‑9 but still in first place heading into the regular‑season finale. On August 2, 7 saw Vancouver defeated defeat the Sea Bears 114‑90 before a sold‑out crowd, sealing Edmonton Stingers 92‑83 at the Western Conference title Envision Financial Court, with Mychal Mulder’s late three‑pointer and earning home‑court advantage for the semifinals against Edmonton. The victory also saw strong performances from Shamar Givance, Mitch Creek become the franchise’s all‑time leading scorer with 801 career points. The club announced the signing of former NBA draft pick Stephen Zimmerman for the remainder of and Tyrese Samuel propelling the season, adding a 7‑foot center to Bandits into the roster. Western Conference final.