Words out鈥� Vancouver Bandits will be hosting the annual BC Basketball Festival again this summer.

91原创鈥檚 own professional basketball team, which plays out of 91原创 Events Centre (LEC), will be hosting the second annual boys and girls tournament over two weekends in June, Bandits team president Dylan Kular.

They鈥檙e expanding the event across two weekends, presenting the boy鈥檚 tourey June 16 to 18, then the girls鈥檚 tournament from June 23 through 25. The shift will help accommodate more teams and more play, as well as an officials development clinic. And in addition to using LEC, games will now also be played in gyms around 91原创 and Surrey, Kular explained.

鈥淲e are thrilled to host the second annual BC Basketball Festival here at 91原创 Events Centre,鈥� Kular said.

鈥淟ast year鈥檚 event was an awesome showcase of the popularity of the game and all the different ways that we can collaborate with community-minded organizations to promote the sport and to develop young athletes and officials,鈥� he added.

Further adding to the festivities, Kular elaborated more on the Canada West Officials Development Camp, which will welcome 65 young officials from across Western Canada to learn and develop their officiating skills.

Members of the Vancouver Bandits鈥� coaching staff will play a key role in the BC Basketball Festival.

On Sunday, June 25, Bandits coaches in collaboration with representatives from the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I路SPARC), will lead a free to attend basketball camp for Indigenous youth as part of the club鈥檚 ongoing commitment to the Indigenous Basketball Collective.

Roundball will also be supporting the event for the second consecutive year. The BC Men鈥檚 Basketball Championship powered by Roundball will take place the first weekend of the BC Basketball Festival and will feature competitive and elite divisions for up to 16 teams.

鈥濃�淭he event has grown this year to encompass two Bandits game days and we are grateful for the support of our partners that continue to enrich our fanbase through their connections and inform us of the various new ways that we can contribute to British Columbia鈥檚 fervent basketball community,鈥� Kular said.

Included in tournament registration is a ticket to the Bandits game taking place the weekend of each respective tournament; in particular, on Saturday, June 17 versus the Saskatchewan Rattlers and Sunday, June 25 against the Calgary Surge.

The Bandits tip-off the 2023 CEBL campaign on Saturday, May 27 when the club takes on the Sea Bears at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.

Hometown fans will have their first chance to watch the Bandits on home soil at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, when Vancouver welcomes the Calgary Surge for its first-ever visit to LEC.

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SIZE WORKING IN JONGKUCH鈥橲 FAVOUR

In addition to this news, the team has also signed another player ahead of the 2023 season.

Most recently, the 91原创-based Vancouver Bandits pro team signed forward Kur Jongkuch for the club鈥檚 upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League season at 91原创 Events Centre.

The Vancouver Bandits announced Monday that the club has signed athletic big man and Team Canada GLOBL JAM forward Kur Jongkuch.

鈥淚 am excited to bring my energy and athleticism to the Vancouver Bandits,鈥� he shared.

A 6 ft. 9 in. forward, Jongkuch was born in Juba, South Sudan and grew up in London, Ont., where he starred at London Basketball Academy before making the jump to NCAA Division I basketball.

He played at both Northern Colorado University (2018-22) then Temple University (2022-23).

Through the course of his five-year collegiate career, Jongkuch played 151 games (126 starts) and alternated between the centre and power forward positions. He averaged a combined 5.7 points, 5.4 rebounds (1.8 offensive) and 18.9 minutes per game on 62.9 per cent shooting from field goal range between North Colorado and Temple.

鈥淚 am a two-way player and I love to give my all for my teammates in an effort to put us in the best position to win,鈥� he said of joining the 91原创-based team.

鈥淭his summer represents a chance to get better, grow as an individual and to inspire Bandits fans. I can鈥檛 wait to get after it and represent the Vancouver area,鈥� Jongkuch said.

He was invited last summer to be part of the Canadian U-23 men鈥檚 national team for the inaugural GLOBL Jam tournament. The 220-pound forward appeared in three games for the men鈥檚 national team at the event.

鈥淜ur鈥檚 journey to get to the CEBL is truly remarkable and inspiring,鈥� said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius.

鈥滺e has shown tremendous resiliency and consistent growth as a player to get to this point. He is a special athlete, an elite defender and his attitude and toughness fit our culture perfectly. We are all looking forward to welcoming Kur to the Bandits family,鈥� Julius added.

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Season tickets for the fifth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase and can be accessed by .

A key highlight of Vancouver鈥檚 fifth CEBL campaign will be its hosting of , which takes place between Aug. 11 and 13.

An annual celebration of the highest level of Canadian professional basketball, Championship Weekend features a postseason format that combines three games of playoff basketball as part of a multi-day festival experience designed to celebrate the intersection of arts, culture and sport. As hosts of Championship Weekend, the Bandits receive an automatic semifinal berth.

Individuals interested in learning more about tickets for the 鈥� 2023 season are kindly asked to call 604-455-8881 or email tickets@thebandits.ca.

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