Montréal, QC – The Montréal Alliance announced Friday that Québec City guard Lawi Msambya has signed a contract with the expansion team for the 2022 season of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). 

The 22-year-old just completed his second year of eligibility at Lakehead University in Ontario. This season, in 13 regular season games, Msambya averaged 13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists, while shooting 41.1 percent from the field. His performances allowed Lakehead University to advance to the playoffs, where Msambya averaged 15 points and 8 assists in two games. 

“I would like to thank the Montréal Alliance organization for the opportunity to play and practice with professionals this summer,” said Msambya. I am honoured to be able to represent Lakehead University, U SPORTS, and my city in the CEBL this summer. I hope to see you all in large numbers for the first game in Montréal on May 29.”

As a sophomore, the six-foot-two point guard averaged 2.7 assists for every turnover, one of the best ratios in the country. In addition, Msambya ranks sixth in Ontario in total assists and 23rd in total steals. 

Since arriving at Lakehead University, Msambya has been named to the Ontario and U SPORTS All-Rookie teams (2019-2020), Lakehead Athletics and Lakehead Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year (2019-2020) as well as Lakehead Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player (2021-2022). 

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Msambya moved to Québec City at the age of two and grew up in Limoilou. He attended Jeunes-du-mondes elementary and completed his high school education at Séminaire Saint-François before joining Thetford Academy. 

As a U SPORTS developmental player, Msambya will play the entirety of the season with the Montréal Alliance before returning to play at Lakehead University for the 2022-2023 season. 

Msambya joins point guards Kemy Ossé, Hernst Laroche and Alain Louis, shooting guard Isiah Osborne, forwards Dominic Green, Nathan Cayo, Abdul Mohamed, Ashley Hamilton and James Jean-Marie as well as centers Marc-André Fortin and Gaios Skordilis and will join the team for the beginning of training camp for the 2022 CEBL season starting May 16. Fans will have the opportunity to see the team play 10 times this summer at the new Verdun Auditorium. Visit https://www.alliancemontreal.ca/en-ca/season-memberships-2022 to get your season membership starting at $22.50 per game and for more information.

About the Montréal Alliance

The Montréal Alliance is a professional basketball team competing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The team will play all their home games at the newly renovated Verdun Auditorium. The Alliance opens their inaugural season May 25 against the Honey Badgers in Hamilton. The season, comprised of 10 home games and 10 road games, ends August 1 when the team faces the BlackJacks in Ottawa. Get your season membership and find more information about the team at www.alliancemontreal.ca and on our social media platforms, on Instagram (@alliancemontreal), Twitter (@mtl_alliance), LinkedIn and Facebook (Montréal Alliance). 

About the CEBL

The CEBL begins its fourth season in May. A league created by Canadians for Canadians, more than 75 percent of its players during the past three seasons were Canadian, the highest percentage of any professional league in the country. CEBL players bring experience from the NBA, the NBA G League, top NCAA programs, the Canadian National team program, top international leagues as well as U SPORTS. All CEBL regular season games will be broadcast live on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports mobile app and CEBL+. Additional information about the league is available at www.cebl.ca. 

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