Posted: Oct 13, 2025
MBB | Voyageurs Close Out Preseason on a Positive Note
After a long summer, the Laurentian Voyageurs closed off their preseason with a tournament in the East, with games versus Brandon and Memorial University.
The Vees opened their road trip with a loss against the Brandon Bobcats while showing energy and strong effort. Brice-Philippe Fandio led the way for the Vees with a dominant 29-point performance, shooting an efficient 13-for-25 from the floor, adding seven rebounds to his offensive display. To Randriasalama added 13 points and 11 rebounds, recording a double-double that provided Laurentian with crucial second-chance opportunities off the glass. Favour Ugbah continued his rebounding prowess with another five boards and another eight points.
After a night's rest, their second matchup came against the hosts in Memorial, where the Voyageurs dropped an 81-64 decision despite a close start. The team saw an extraordinary effort from Fandio, who dropped 33 points while shooting 10/15 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the line, while adding six rebounds to his stat line. Favour Ugbah steadied the backline with seven boards of his own and four steals to help on the defensive end of the court. Though the final result wasn't in their favour, the performance hinted at the cohesion and dominance to come.
By the final game of the weekend, that dominance was on full display. The Vees moved the ball with confidence, defended as a unit, and delivered a consistent offensive rhythm throughout the game. Fandio had another strong outing, tallying another 19 points, and Angel Castellanos added his own 23 points from the bench, shooting over 50% from the floor. Ugbah provided another 10 rebounds, giving a hint at his monopoly on rebounds before the beginning of the season.
Laurentian prepares for its home opener on October 24, encouraged by its progress and growth shown across the roster. The three-game stretch tested their endurance, communication, and mental resilience, and their response at the end of the weekend was clear.
- Brendan Rubin