New Westminster Hyacks head football coach Farhan Lalji (left) and UBC head men's basketball coach Kevin Hanson each visit with host Howard Tsumura as Varsity Letters -- The Podcast returns to the pod stream. (Photos by Howard Tsumura and Richard Lam property of VarsityLetters.ca and UBC athletics)
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We’re back! Varsity Letters – The Podcast makes its return! UBC hoops coach Hanson, New West football coach Lalji stop in to chat

LANGLEY — There’s a sense deja vu filtering through the airwaves this week around the province of B.C. with return of Varsity Letters-The Podcast. Long a weekly staple during my years at The Vancouver Province, we’re back for the first time since 2016, right here at our new home at VarsityLetters.ca This week, we’re honoured […]

Former W.J. Mouat and UFV coach Trevor Pridie has left his job as video coordinator with Raptors 905 to fill the vacant head coaching chair at Trinity Western. (Photo by Scott Stewart property of Trinity Western athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
UBC guard Mason Bourcier did all of his scoring when it mattered most, taking over the game down the fourth quarter stretch-drive to give UBC a 74-62 win over the host Alberta Golden Bears in the opening game of their best-of-three conference semifinal Friday in Edmonton. (File photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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UBC protects paint, leans on Bourcier late to extract a pure-guts road win over Alberta in conference semifinal opener

The UBC Thunderbirds knew they needed a hot start on the offensive end and a courageous one on the defensive end if they were going to give themselves any chance at coming out Edmonton this weekend with a berth to the Canada West championship final next March 2 in Calgary against the host Dinos, and […]

UBC's Manroop Clair (front) dribbles out of the clutches of Fraser Valley's Parm Bains on Saturday at War Memorial Gymnasium. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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The Jordan-esque Manroop Clair! UBC shooting star skips morning shoot around, saves energy for series-clinching win over UFV

VANCOUVER — By his own admission, Manroop Clair is still not back in game shape.Yet the UBC Thunderbirds’ dead-eye shooting guard is so dangerous that even without his legs fully under him, he’s still capable of being a difference maker.On Saturday, still reeling from having played back-to-back games the previous two nights in its Canada […]

UBC's Jadon Cohee brought the aggressive nature back to his game Friday and helped the 'Birds stave off elimination at the hands of the visiting Fraser Valley Cascades. (Photo by Wilson Wong property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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After playing “…one of the worst games of my career” UBC’s Jadon Cohee flips the script Friday as ‘Birds stay alive with win over UFV

VANCOUVER — Jadon Cohee has had some great days playing basketball in his home province of B.C.Like scoring 22 points and being picked tournament MVP in leading the Walnut Grove Gators to the B.C. senior boys Triple A championship in March of 2013.Or later that summer, picking up the phone to take a call from […]

Fraser Valley's Sukhjot Bains (left) rises in the paint against UBC's Grant Shephard (centre) and Mason Bourcier during Game 1 of Canada West quarterfinal Thursday at War Gym in Vancouver. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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After UFV’s three-point daggers stagger UBC in Game 1, Cascades coach Friesen says “…we came in with the belief winning was possible”

VANCOUVER — The Fraser Valley Cascades vowed last week that they would never let indecisive play be the reason they weren’t advancing through the Canada West playoffs.

UBC Thunderbirds' scoring leader Jadon Cohee (left) welcomes back two healthy teammates Thursday as the playoffs begin at home to UFV: Point guard Mason Bourcier (right) and shooting guard Manroop Clair (not pictured). (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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UBC-UFV quarterfinals: ‘Birds bye week helps wounded guards Clair, Bourcier bring their best 60 minutes to War on Thursday

VANCOUVER — Like your favourite TV drama, Manroop Clair and Mason Bourcier are easily the equivalent of a solid hour’s worth of entertainment for UBC Thunderbirds’ men’s basketball fans.

Manroop Clair (right) of the UBC Thunderbirds has always been known for his ability to hoist. Now, however, his foes have to tend to an equally dangerous floor game. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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The flair of UBC’s Manroop Clair: More than just a deep threat, new freedom give ‘Birds veteran guard room to prosper

VANCOUVER — Manroop Clair doesn’t care if his reputation precedes him, because let’s face it, the UBC Thunderbirds’ fourth-year transfer guard has always embraced the fact that he is known to all as a shooter’s shooter.

UFV's redshirt senior forward Navjot Bains has become a player of influence for the vastly-improved Cascades. (Photo by Dan Kinvig property of University of the Fraser Valley athletics 2018. All Rights Reserved)
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Navjot Bains: How Fraser Valley’s battle-scarred senior has helped lift his Cascades with the gifts of grit and presence

ABBOTSFORD — A season ago, Navjot Bains was unable to get around without a limp, and when push actually came to shove, he wasn’t physically able to lead a young Fraser Valley Cascades team through the rigours of a Canada West conference campaign.

UBC head men's basketball coach got his start as both a player and a coach at Lanagara College. Now the Falcons are honouring his excellence with a scholarship endowment in his name. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athleitcs 2018. All Rights Reserved)
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Kevin Hanson Scholarship: Langara founds endowment fund in name of former Falcons, current UBC hoops coach

VANCOUVER  — It was the place that gave him his first chance as a basketball player coming out of high school. It’s the place that gave him the opportunity to establish himself in what has become a lifelong occupation as a basketball coach.