On Saturday, June 3, the Vancouver Bandits hosted their home opener against the Calgary Surge, marking their third game of the 2023 CEBL season. Considering the season’s initial losses for the Bandits, and the Surge’s previously undefeated start, it was a pleasant surprise to witness the Bandits’ 84-81 win.
The first quarter was a challenge for the local squad as the team had difficulties working together and finding their groove. With a score of 10-20 for the Surge, things didn’t look great for the Bandits. Despite a rocky start, two players showed a compelling amount of teamwork: 21-year-old rookie, Diego Maffia, and 25-year-old Georgian player, Giorgi Bezhanishvili.
When asked what head coach, Kyle Julius, said to him during the first quarter break, Maffia said his coach told him to “stay the course.” It’s become a motto of sorts for the team. “It’s written on the board,” said Maffia — “stay the course.” It seemed to work as they picked up their game by the end of the second quarter (41-43) and gained the lead in the third, entering the fourth quarter up 63-61.
The final stretch became the most entertaining as Calgary’s performance dropped off and the Bandits came together. This fourth quarter saw the most penalties, which would have ended the game sooner, had Nick Ward converted on half of his free throws. Even with the Surge closing the gap, Maffia was able to get to the line and score the game-winning free throw.
Maffia emerged the obvious star of this home opener and first Bandit win of the season as he ended the game with an amazing double-double of 15 points and 11 assists. Bezhanishvili ended the game with 17 points and his team work with Maffia made the two stand out.
“We clicked right away,” said Maffia when asked about his noticeable connection with Bezhanishvili on the court. “I roomed with him while we were away, so we got to spend more time together, got to talk more, got to learn more about his experiences, what he wants to do, reads, and today I got a chance to kind of prove that right, and come on, make the reads, make the passes … we just clicked right away and he’s great guy to play with.”
“[Maffia’s] IQ and poise is off the charts,” said Julius after the victory. “He is special.” If he keeps impressing his coach and these Bandits fans, Maffia will be one to watch as the season develops.
Adding to Maffia’s and Bezhanishvili’s performance, 26-year-old American, Nick Ward, supplied 19 points and nine rebounds, while Malcolm Duvivier put up 14 points and seven rebounds, and Derek Brown Jr. added 12 points and seven rebounds. Altogether, it resulted in the Bandits’ first win in three games this season, and halted the Surge’s winning-streak.
The Vancouver Bandits’ next home game will be on June 17 against the Saskatchewan Rattlers, and I anticipate the energy levels to be even higher than their home opener, if at all possible.
