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CEBL Set to Represent Canada as Stingers Take on Real Estelí

December 13, 2021 - Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) News Release

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) will represent Canada in the upcoming FIBA Basketball Champions League of Americas for the first time when the 2021 CEBL champion Edmonton Stingers face off against Real Estelí in Polideportivo, Aleix Arguello, Nicaragua on December 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Edmonton will then play Cangrejeros at the same venue on December 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Both games will be streamed live on CEBL's OTT platform, CEBL+. Games will also be available to stream live in Canada via cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, and the free CBC Gem streaming service.

The Stingers will represent the CEBL by virtue of having won the 2021 CEBL Championship in what is the best continental basketball league of the Americas. The competition brings together 12 teams representing seven countries from the Americas, competing over the course of four months to win a berth in the 2023 FIBA International Cup, one of professional basketball's most prestigious international championship events.

Competitive spirit

The CEBL has assembled a competitive roster wearing the Edmonton Stingers uniform this winter, comprised of seven Canadians and three international players who bring experience, energy and versatility. Of the Canadians, notable CEBL names include 2021 CEBL Sixth Man of the Year, Adika Peter-McNielly, Edmonton guard Jahmal Jones, Ottawa BlackJacks guard and Canada Basketball Senior Men's National Team member Junior Cadougan, 2019 CEBL champion Chad Posthumus, Guelph Nighthawks guard and the first Canadian McDonald's All-American, Olu Famutimi, and Hamilton Honey Badgers guard Cody John.

"I am eager to lead a roster that has many players I've coached and coached against in the CEBL," said Jermaine Small, head coach and general manager of the Edmonton Stingers for the BCLAs. "We have a collection of battle tested players, and knowing our imports just finished playing in South America, I believe this group will gel quickly and be ready to compete."

The international players include NBA veteran centre Josh Boone, who played 256 games for the New Jersey Nets from 2006 to 2011 when he averaged 17.5 minutes per game and started 88 games. He averaged a career-high 7.3 rebounds in 70 games during the 2007-08 NBA season. After brief stints in the Chinese Basketball Association, Boone played in the National Basketball League in Australia where he led the league in rebounding and won the 2018 championship with Melbourne United.

Albany, New York native Trahson Burrell brings four seasons of NBA G League experience in which he averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, and 26.4 minutes in 139 contests. Both Burrell and Boone currently play in Mexico's Liga Nacional De Baloncesto Professional (LNBP) for Libertadores and Halcones UV Xalapa respectively.

Formidable group stage competition

The Stingers have been assigned to Group A of the group stages of the BCLA featuring 2020-21 runner-up Real Estelí from Nicaragua, and Cangrejeros from Puerto Rico. In addition to the games in Nicaragua, the Group A trio will square off next in Puerto Rico, January 29-30, 2022. Canada will host the third window of games at WinSport Arena in Calgary, March 14-16, 2022. Tickets for the third window are available now via this link.

Real Estelí, popularly nicknamed "El Tren Del Norte" (The Train Of The North) just became Liga Superio De Baloncesto (LSB) champions after being BCLA finalists last year. The roster of Jezreel De Jesús, Javier Mojica, Álex Franklin and Renaldo Balkman are back from last year's competition and are joined by the Puerto Rican guard and NBA draft pick, Guillermo Díaz. 30-year-old point guard De Jesús recently appeared in the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers for Puerto Rico averaging a team high 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

Cangrejeros from Puerto Rico, like the Stingers, will be participating in their first season of the BCLA. Their latest roster included notable NBA veterans J.J. Barea and Michael Beasley. Point guard Barea has served as the cornerstone of a roster that went into the first round of playoffs in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) of Puerto Rico where they lost to Capitanes de Arecibo. In its history, Cangrejeros has won eight championships and appeared in 14 BSN finals.

Other BCLA teams and countries

The BCLA is the best continental league of the Americas and features 12 teams representing seven countries including Quimsa, Boca Jrs and Obras from Argentina, São Paulo, Minas, and returning champion Flamengo from Brazil, Bigua, and Nacional from Uruguay, UdeC from Chile, Cangrejeros from Puerto Rico, season two runner-up Real Estelí from Nicaragua, and the Edmonton Stingers. The BCLA's are created through an innovative partnership between FIBA, national federations, and the leagues represented by participating clubs. Each of the 12 teams will host games during the group stage. More information on the competition as well as the full schedule can be found here.

The CEBL begins its fourth season in May 2022. A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

Canadian Elite Basketball League Stories from December 13, 2021

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.