The Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) are bringing a familiar face back into the fold with the re-signing of University of Victoria standout and 2025 U SPORTS national champion Diego Maffia.
A Victoria native and Oak Bay High School graduate, Maffia reunites with former Vikes teammate Sam Maillet, who signed with the Bandits in late March. The duo played key roles in leading the UVic Vikes to their first national title in over two decades earlier this year.
Maffia, the Vikes’ all-time leading scorer with 2,096 career points, capped off a decorated university career this past season. A two-time U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian and Canada West Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, he helped power UVic to three straight Canada West titles and four consecutive appearances at the national tournament.
While the Vikes claimed the national championship in March, Maffia missed most of the season due to a knee injury sustained in January. He has since undergone successful surgery and is currently rehabbing. The Bandits announced he will be placed on the club’s Suspended List for the 2025 season, securing the team’s rights to retain him for 2026.
"Obviously I will not be playing this summer, but the Bandits family showing support through this journey means a lot to me and shows me that I can count on them moving forward," Maffia told Saanich News.
Across five seasons with the Vikes, Maffia appeared in 103 games, averaging 20.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 33.3 per cent from three-point range. He logged nearly 30 minutes per game and averaged over three made threes per outing.
Originally selected sixth overall in the 2023 CEBL Draft, Maffia has suited up in 30 games for the Bandits across the past two seasons. He’s averaged 4.9 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 rebounds in just over 11 minutes per game.
"Diego has always been a huge part of our development culture. We want to help Diego through his recovery process and make sure he is set up for success with us when he is ready to get back to action," said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius.
The Bandits open their 2025 CEBL season on May 15 on the road against the Saskatchewan Rattlers.
