CANADIAN ELITE BASKETBALL LEAGUE RE-INTRODUCES SASKATOON MAMBA FRANCHISE 

One of the league’s original franchises gets a bold new brand identity, new home venue, and new ownership group. FEB 4 – The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) unveiled its reinvigorated Saskatchewan franchise at a press conference Wednesday at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon. The rebranded, Saskatoon Mamba (previously Saskatchewan Rattlers) will return for their eighth season in May, with both SaskTel Centre and Merlis Belsher Place hosting games. Jason Ribeiro and Usman Tahir Jutt were introduced as the team’s ownership group. The business and community leaders also operate the CEBL’s Calgary Surge. "This is a defining moment for basketball in Saskatchewan and for our league,” said CEBL President Tyler Mazereeuw. “The Canadian Elite Basketball League is national in reach, but community-driven at its core. Revitalizing the Saskatoon franchise reflects that commitment. Jason and Usman have proven their ability to unite communities through sport and art in Calgary, and they are bringing that same passion to ensure the Saskatoon Mamba becomes a lasting source of regional pride and fuels our league’s continued nationwide momentum." The Saskatchewan Rattlers were the inaugural champions of Canada’s professional basketball league in 2019. Since then, the CEBL has grown to over 4.1 million Canadian fans, representing 14 per cent of the population and an increase of 57 per cent since 2022. Built by Canadians, for Canadians, the league strikes a unique balance between global innovation and deep local connection, attracting a young, digitally savvy, sports-loving audience, with more than half of fans under the age of 34. This fast-growing, engaged fan base reflects the CEBL’s momentum and provides a strong foundation for the next chapter of professional basketball in Saskatchewan. “I am deeply grateful to the Saskatoon community and the club’s passionate fanbase for welcoming us,” said Jason Ribeiro, Co-Chairman of the Calgary Surge and Saskatoon Mamba. “The strength of the Surge — the players, staff, partners and fans who have built something special in Calgary — has allowed us to dream bigger and extend our ambition to new places. The Mamba is our second investment in a CEBL community — and our next step in stewarding the game of basketball across Canada, from coast to coast to coast.” “Basketball has a special place in Saskatoon, and our community has shown how deeply we love and support the game,” said Mayor of Saskatoon Cynthia Block. “As we turn the page and welcome a new ownership group, we do so with pride, excitement, and a continued commitment to celebrating professional basketball in our city.” 2024 Olympian, three-time FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Champion, and proud daughter of Saskatchewan/Treaty 6, Paige Crozon revealed the team’s name and logo to the public for the first time. The reinvigorated Saskatoon Mamba brand was designed by REAL Studios , a creative agency founded by Ribeiro that creates accessible culture-driven content and materials that move audiences. Mamba maintains the franchise’s identity as a venomous snake with a modern look, feel, and sound, and is a deliberate acknowledgement of the franchise’s origins as the “Rattlers.” The icon and typeface reflect the same curvature and bend present in the City of Saskatoon’s logo, a nod to the city’s place along the South Saskatchewan River. The team’s primary colour is a bold and vibrant purple, with more colourways to be revealed soon. The 2026 season will see the team play at both SaskTel Centre, the team’s home for the last 7 years, and Merlis Belsher Place. In total, 7 regular season games will be played at Merlis Belsher Place, and 5 regular season games will be played at SaskTel Centre. Merlis Belsher Place is a 120,000 square-foot multisport and live events facility on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon operated by Nustadia Recreation Inc. Opened in 2018, it provides an arena with a centre-hung video board, capacity for 2,750 spectators, and houses the two official NBA-size Ron and Jane Graham Gymnasiums. Merlis Belsher Place was named in honour of USask alumnus Merlis Belsher. The facility has hosted the prestigious Grand Slam of Curling, Canadian National Ball Hockey Championships, Saskatchewan Roughriders Winter Classic, Saskatoon Folk Fest, and many other events. Merlis Belsher Place is also a year-round community sport and recreation hub for thousands of Saskatoon children and newcomers. The franchise will continue building on a foundation that centres community impact, enrichment for youth and families, and a modern, culturally informed approach to sport and entertainment. The Saskatoon Mamba’s 2026 season will tip off on May 14th, with full schedule and venue information available at saskatoonmamba.ca/schedule . ### Media Contact: Karina Castellanos Feijoó Manager, Projects & Administration Calgary Surge 647-916-3594; [email protected] Aaron Gogishvili Senior Director, Communications & Community Relations CEBL [email protected] QUOTES: Honourable Alana Ross – Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, Government of Saskatchewan “Congratulations to Jason Ribeiro and Usman Tahir Jutt on this exciting new chapter as the team gears up for their eighth season in the league. The Saskatchewan Rattlers have played a significant role in developing professional basketball in our province and we are excited to see what the future holds in store for the Saskatoon Mamba.” Stephanie Pocha – CEO, Discover Saskatoon "Change can be challenging, but it also creates space to tell a new and positive story about our city. What’s encouraging about this next chapter is the clear intention to build something ambitious and community focused. By activating both Merlis Belsher Place and SaskTel Centre, the Saskatoon Mamba are showing care for residents and visitors alike, while keeping the team rooted at home.” Wade Epp – Associate Vice-President, Campus Operations, University of Saskatchewan “The University of Saskatchewan and Huskie Athletics are proud to partner with the Saskatoon Mamba and to have Merlis Belsher Place serve as the team’s new home court for the 2026 season. The remarkable Merlis Belsher Place multipurpose facility was designed to bring the community to the campus, and we look forward to welcoming the club and Mamba fans to the university this year. We are excited to work together to help grow the sport of basketball in the community.” “The University of Saskatchewan has a basketball history dating back more than a century, from the defending national champion USask women’s team that is currently undefeated this season, to the former national champion Huskie men’s basketball team that has had 11 players drafted in the CEBL in the last six seasons.” Biographies of Calgary Surge and Saskatoon Mamba Co-Chairmen Jason Ribeiro & Usman Tahir Jutt Jason Ribeiro, Ph.D. is a father, community advocate, and award-winning entrepreneur who is passionate about shaping culture and building a more ambitious Canada. He is a fixture in media and academia and serves on several corporate and not-for-profit boards. Usman Tahir Jutt is a father, philanthropist, and award-winning entrepreneur who is passionate about building better communities and helping Canadians succeed. About the Calgary Surge The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating as the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have made three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025 (as well as Franchise of the Year), hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca . About the Saskatoon Mamba The Saskatoon Mamba (previously Saskatchewan Rattlers) tipped off their inaugural season at SaskTel Centre in May 2019 and went on to win the inaugural Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) championship. The Mamba are active members of the community, participating in countless events that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. The team has restored over 100 basketball nets across the city to make basketball more accessible to youth. For more information, visit saskatoonmamba.ca . About the CEBL The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide. In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media.

2x Western Conference Champions and CEBL Franchise of the Year Back for Fourth Season January 15, 2026 – Calgary, AB – Off the heels of their most successful season to date, "TRILOGY," which earned them Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) honours as Franchise of the Year and 2025 Western Conference Champions, as well as amassing record crowds across three venues (WinSport Event Centre, Scotiabank Saddledome, and Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer), the Calgary Surge are shifting into "OVERDRIVE." The 2026 season is all about acceleration – elevating on-court performance, deepening community engagement, and amplifying the energy the Surge bring to every game. Building on the momentum of last season’s achievements, the organization is poised to cement its fast-growing reputation as one of the most exciting live event offerings in Western Canada. “Building on the momentum of ‘TRILOGY,’ we’re shifting into ‘OVERDRIVE’ with a relentless focus on basketball excellence, fan experience powered by great art and entertainment, as well as continued community impact,” said Team President, Dylan Howe. “Our team will play with urgency as we chase our first CEBL championship and bring even more energy to the Calgary community.” On the court, the Surge will open the 2026 campaign on the road against the Ottawa BlackJacks on Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. MT, at TD Place. The Surge Home Opener will follow on Thursday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. MT, when the Surge welcome the Scarborough Shooting Stars to WinSport Event Centre for fans’ first taste of OVERDRIVE action. For the complete 2026 schedule, visit calgarysurge.ca/schedule . The Canadian Elite Basketball League’s (CEBL) eighth season marks the beginning of a new era for the league with the introduction of a full in-market playoff model and the first best-of-three CEBL Finals series in league history. The Calgary Surge regular season will feature 24 games — 12 at home and 12 on the road — running from May 9 to August 3. Following the regular season, the playoffs will begin with a single-elimination Conference Semifinals on Thursday, August 6, followed by single-elimination Conference Finals on Saturday, August 8, with higher seeds hosting each round. The season will conclude with a best-of-three CEBL Finals from August 12–16, marking the first multi-game championship series in league history, with the lower seed hosting Game 1 and the higher seed hosting Games 2 and 3, if necessary. For more information on the playoff format, visit cebl.ca/playoffs . 2026 season tickets are on sale and for a limited time, fans can purchase an exclusive Home Opener Flex Pack, which includes one ticket to the 2026 Home Opener and two additional games of their choice. Visit calgarysurge.ca/surge-home-opener-pack for more information. Fans should continue to follow Surge channels as several marquee game announcements will be made in the coming weeks. About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club and REAL Studios. The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating as the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have made three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit calgarysurge.ca . About the CEBL The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is Canada’s professional basketball league, with 10 member clubs across six provinces. Blending global innovation with local connection, the league is redefining how the game is played and experienced while rooting its teams deeply in communities coast to coast. With a fan base of 4.1 million Canadians – up 57 per cent since 2022 – the CEBL has cultivated Canada’s youngest basketball audience, with more than half of its fans aged 34 or younger. Its rapid growth reflects its ability to connect authentically with a new generation of basketball fans while expanding the sport’s cultural footprint nationwide. In 2025, the CEBL featured 17 players with NBA experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its athletes were Canadian – the highest proportion of domestic talent in any professional sports league in the country. To date, nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following CEBL seasons, which run from May through August. Visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on social media. Media Contact: Karina Castellanos Feijoó Manager, Projects & Administration Calgary Surge 647-916-3594; [email protected]

One of the league’s most experienced operators steps into expanded role after guiding competitive success and community impact. DEC 15 – The Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club is proud to announce that Dylan Howe has been promoted to Team President as part of an organized succession plan. Howe previously served as the team’s Senior Vice President, where he was instrumental in driving the Surge’s operations in basketball, ticketing, community engagement, and programming. Howe has served under the direct mentorship of Surge Co-Chairman and awarded entrepreneur Jason Ribeiro since the franchise launched in October 2022. Prior to joining the Calgary Surge, Howe served in progressively senior roles with the Niagara River Lions (2016-18) and Guelph Nighthawks (2018-2022) of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). “Dylan has been by my side from the very beginning of the Calgary Surge shaping every detail of who we are — competitively, culturally, and commercially,” said Jason Ribeiro, Co-Chairman of the Surge. “This promotion, his second in three years, is a testament to the dedication he has shown to date and the leadership potential he continues to bring to Canada’s sports and entertainment industry.” In 2025, the Surge were named 2025 CEBL Franchise of the Year, captured their second Western Conference Championship and Digital Excellence Award in three years, advanced to a third consecutive Championship Weekend, and finished with their best record in franchise history. “I’m honoured by the trust placed in me,” Howe said. “Our fans, our partners, and our city have embraced my family and I in such a powerful way. I’m committed to continuing the work of making the Calgary Surge a leading example of sport, culture, and community across the nation.” Ribeiro will continue to guide the business’s growth with his unique lens to cross-sector partnerships, community impact, and belief that innovation can shape culture and inspire connection. The organization’s latest venture is REAL Studios , a creative agency that produces accessible culture-driven content and materials that move audiences — not by chasing trends, but by revealing the real stories inside people, teams, and communities. The studio serves as the in-house creative team for the Calgary Surge and its wide range of sponsors and community partners and is now accepting new clients. Rather than relying on gimmicks or surface-level spectacle, the studio operates as a humble creative engine, led by a team with deep experience in storytelling, brand strategy, and the thoughtful use of AI to expand creative possibilities. The Surge will continue building on a foundation that centres community impact, enrichment for youth and families, and a modern, culturally informed approach to sport and entertainment. The Calgary Surge’s 2026 season will tip off in May, with full schedule information to be announced shortly. Season tickets for 10 Calgary games can be purchased here and start at $37 per game. About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club and REAL Studios. The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca . About the CEBL Created by Canadians for Canadians, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is dedicated to developing Canadian players, coaches, referees, and sports executives. In 2025, the league featured a record 17 players with NBA game experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its rosters were Canadian — the highest of any professional league in the country. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National Team program, NCAA, U SPORTS, and CCAA. Nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and many others attend NBA G League training camps each year. The season runs from May through August, with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, and Next Level Sports & Entertainment in the U.S. For more information, visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . Media Contact: Karina Castellanos Feijoó Manager, Projects & Administration Calgary Surge 647-916-3594; [email protected]

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada's largest domestic professional sports league, announced Thursday the Calgary Surge have been named the 2025 CEBL Franchise of the Year as part of the league's 2025 Business Awards. The Surge also took home the Digital Excellence Award, marking the second time in three years Calgary has received that distinction. “The Calgary Surge have proven themselves best-in-class, excelling on the court, engaging fans, and making a real impact in their community. These awards are a well-deserved recognition of their outstanding achievements,” said CEBL President Ty Mazereeuw. Over three years the Surge have become Calgary's winningest team, outpacing the winning percentage of all local NHL, CFL, AHL, WHL, NLL, CPL, and NSL franchises. “We’ve never been afraid to do things differently – to experiment, to blur the lines between sport and art, and to represent Calgary in a way that feels fresh and unapologetically ambitious,” said Jason Ribeiro, Vice-Chairman & President of the Calgary Surge and Co-Founder of REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. “These honours belong to an entire community of staff, players, partners, and fans who have emboldened us to lead a new era of professional basketball in Canada.” In 2025, the Surge captured their second Western Conference Championship in three years, advanced to a third consecutive Championship Weekend, and finished with a 17–7 record, the second-best mark in the league and best in franchise history. Calgary also led the CEBL in rebounds, steals, fouls drawn, and free throw attempts, while allowing the fewest points against. The team’s success was fueled by a star-studded roster assembled by General Manager, Shane James and led by Head Coach, Kaleb Canales. Jameer Nelson Jr. set a CEBL record with 57 steals and was named Defensive Player of the Year (nominated alongside Surge forward Greg Brown III), while Evan Gilyard II established a new franchise scoring record with 37 points in a single game and a CEBL playoff record with eight three-pointers. Rugzy Miller- Moore finished tied for first in target-score game winners (six) and set a new single-season scoring record for a Canadian with 427 points. The Surge continue to hold the largest single-game attendance record in the CEBL and in 2025 the Surge hosted their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th highest-attended games and their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th highest-grossing games in franchise history. The Surge also became the first CEBL team to host regular season games in three venues in a single season – WinSport Event Centre, the Scotiabank Saddledome (headlining the Calgary Stampede), and Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer (the first neutral-site game in league history). The team’s commitment to community remains at the core of its identity. This year saw the launch of their free SURGE CITY HOOPS programming in collaboration with the City of Calgary. Their Surge ASSIST program with Kids Up Front Calgary provided free access to games for another 2,250 vulnerable Calgarians in 2025, raising nearly $400,000 over three years and supporting more than 6,500 children and families. The team has also raised nearly $50,000 for KidSport to help remove financial barriers to youth basketball programming across the city. The criteria for each award is as follows: FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR Awarded to the franchise that best represents the values of the CEBL through good internal governance, engagement in the community, commitment to innovation, success on the basketball court and with revenue generation, demonstration of a long-term vision for sustainable business growth, and promotion of Canadian basketball. DIGITAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Awarded to the franchise that best delivers graphic and video content that demonstrates excellence in quality of presentation and appeal, creativity and innovation, and overall consistency, while driving interactive engagement with designated targeted audiences that show a measurable impact for followers, partners, and for the franchise’s business and brand awareness. Voted 40% by quantifiable measures in-season from May 1 to August 31 and 60% by vote. Award winners were voted on by different variations of groups comprised of league and team executives, including but not limited to the CEBL’s President and Chief Operating Officer, and all 10 team presidents. The Calgary Surge’s 2026 season will tip off in May, with full schedule information to be announced in the coming months. Season tickets for 10 Calgary games can be purchased here and start at $37 per game. About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live events company co- founded by Jason Ribeiro that owns and operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club. The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca . A bout the CEBL Created by Canadians for Canadians, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is dedicated to developing Canadian players, coaches, referees, and sports executives. In 2025, the league featured a record 17 players with NBA game experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its rosters were Canadian — the highest of any professional league in the country. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National Team program, NCAA, U SPORTS, and CCAA. Nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and many others attend NBA G League training camps each year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+ , TSN , TSN+ , RDS , Game+ , Next Level Sports & Entertainment . More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube . Media Contact: Karina Castellanos Feijoó Manager, Projects & Administration Calgary Surge 647-916-3594; [email protected]

As the Calgary Surge and Vancouver Bandits jockeyed for position atop the Western Conference all season, a postseason matchup appeared all but destined. Now, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the West get ready to face off at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, with a trip to the Western Conference Final at Championship Weekend — and a matchup against the host Winnipeg Sea Bears — on the line. Live broadcast coverage of the West Semifinal tilt begins at 12:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. ET on TSN, CEBL+, TSN+ and NLSE. The Surge and Bandits enter the matchup as the two hottest teams in the league, each having won their last four regular-season games. Meanwhile, Calgary pushed its win streak to five straight with a 103-95 Play-In win over the Edmonton Stingers on Thursday to advance to the Western Conference Semifinal. It was an effort led by the floor general tandem of Evan Gilyard II (28 points, five assists) and Jameer Nelson Jr. (26 points, seven assists and two steals). The duo not only accounted for over 50 per cent of the Surge’s scoring production on the night, but also led the way in Target Score Time as Gilyard II and Nelson Jr. scored all of Calgary’s points once the clocks stopped. “It’s super special and we’re super spoiled having both of them,” Surge head coach Caleb Canales said of the pairing after the game. “Both are knocking on the door of an NBA contract. They play both ends at a high level, so we’ve been very spoiled by both of them.” On the other side, the Bandits look to begin their postseason journey of retribution on the right foot. Vancouver made it to the Championship Final last year before ultimately losing to the Niagara River Lions. And it was clear that the West Coast squad had nothing but redemption on its mind leading into 2025, as this year’s Bandits have been on a mission, maintaining pole position in the conference for much of the season. An effort that stemmed largely from their dominance on both ends of the floor — boasting the league’s No. 1 offence (98.8 points per game) and second-ranked defence (88.4 points against per game). Saturday’s matchup also won’t be the first time the West rivals meet in the playoffs, as Vancouver and Calgary are plenty familiar with one another in a single-elimination setting. The pair have faced off in the Western Conference Final in back-to-back seasons leading into this year, and fittingly, those battles were split evenly — the Surge winning in 2023 (then losing to the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Final) and the Bandits coming out on top in 2024. Season series If there’s any squad that won’t be intimidated at the prospect of heading into Vancouver to take on a top-seeded Bandits team, it’s the Surge. For starters, Calgary hasn’t been far behind in terms of two-way production as it ranks second on offence (95.3) and first on defence (87.2). Beyond that, the Surge also hold a bit of a mental edge, considering they swept the regular-season series (3-0) against the Bandits this year. Aside from the last game, which came down to a Gilyard game-winning triple, the first two contests were fairly one-sided as Calgary won them by an average margin of 16.0 points. Victories that were spearheaded by the Surge’s trademark defence as they held the top-scoring and most efficient offence in the CEBL to just 87 points per game on 43 per cent shooting throughout the three games. Players to watch Saturday’s contest features top-end talent on both sides. Between the Surge and Bandits, five 2025 CEBL award finalists will be taking the floor. Mitch Creek, in the running for league MVP, will presumably leave his mark in the West Semifinal against a Calgary team he’s found success against individually. The Aussie enters the matchup having averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds on a 52.5 per cent field goal clip in those appearances. Manning the frontcourt with Creek will be Tyrese Samuel, who’s up for Canadian Player of the Year alongside Calgary’s Sean Miller-Moore. Samuel has turned heads in his first CEBL season as the only player to average a double-double (21.4 points, 10.8 rebounds) this year. Bandits fans will also be hoping for a repeat showing from his last game against the Surge, when the Montreal native put up a team-best 26 points on 12-of-15 shooting. Meanwhile, Miller-Moore has done his fair share of damage against the Bandits as a Surge mainstay the last three years. The two-time CEBL All-Canadian enters Saturday having averaged 23 points on 52.6 per cent shooting in three games against Vancouver this season, including a game-high 27-point showing in July. As for Calgary, expect plenty from the two-way tandem of Nelson Jr. and Greg Brown III — both vying for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Nelson Jr. set a new single-season CEBL steals record this season with 57 in 19 games, while his 3.0 steals per game led the league by a full steal over the next closest player. Brown III was second in the CEBL for both blocks per game (1.8) and total blocks (41) this year. He’s also been highly productive against the Bandits in 2025, averaging 22.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in three appearances. 2025 CEBL Playoff Schedule Eastern Conference Semifinal – Saturday, Aug. 16 – SSS at OTT – 1 p.m. ET – Centre Slush Puppie – Gatineau, QC (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) Western Conference Semifinal – Saturday, Aug. 16 – CGY at VAN – 12:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. ET – Langley Events Centre (TSN, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – Eastern Conference Final – Friday, Aug. 22 – TBD at NRL – 5 p.m. CDT / 6 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – Western Conference Final – Friday, Aug. 22 – WPG at TBD – 7:30 p.m. CDT / 8:30 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) CW25 – CEBL Championship Final – Sunday, Aug. 24 – TBD at TBD – 6 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. ET – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB (TSN, RDS, CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE) For the full 2025 CEBL schedule, please visit cebl.ca/games .