Latest news with #Miller-Moore
Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
First quarter ‘Surge' carries Calgary to first win on home court
Tenacity, a familiar opponent and scrappy play carried the Calgary Surge to their second straight victory against the Winnipeg Sea Bears, a 93-61 win. Their home-opening 32-point victory was the largest margin of the year, pushing their overall record to three wins and one loss. The team's dominance was encapsulated by a third-quarter Greg Brown III fast-break dunk, a basket that increased the team's lead to 29 points. Surge head coach Kaleb Canales said the team fed off the home-opener's energy. 'A game is tough to win, home or road. We absolutely love our fans and the energy they bring,' he said. 'We had circled this day because we knew it was our home opener and it was going to be special.' The game wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for the Surge, as Brown III fouled-out of the game after receiving his fifth foul, a technical, after an altercation with Sea Bears player Emmanual Akot with just under five minutes left on the clock. 'I'm literally just trying to get to my spot. So, I'm like, 'move because you're in my way,' and then he just starts cussing at me for something,' Brown said, describing the altercation . 'I'm looking, they (the referees) say double technical. I'm like, 'I didn't say anything, but how (you) gonna call me for a technical (when) I didn't say anything.' Without Brown III, the game was held in the hands of 'Rugzy' Miller-Moore, after he was fouled with a single point remaining before the team hit the target score. After hitting his shot and clinching the victory for his team, Miller-Moore said he was happy he didn't air-ball another shot. 'It feels good to win, however fashion,' said Miller-Moore, who recorded his 200 CEBL assist in Sunday's game. 'I went for the three, I air-balled that, I air-balled a free throw earlier in the game, so I'm just glad I was able to hit the biggest free throw of the game to seal the game and go home.' After the victory, players including Brown III and Miller-Moore stayed on the floor, giving autographs and taking pictures with lucky fans. The fan reception at the home-opener, along with the team's Be-Well exhibition game , is not the worst thing for Brown III. 'I love it, to be honest. In Mexico City, they show love, America, they show love. Coming to Canada, the other part of North America is great,' he said. 'I'm on my North American tour right now.' Miller-Moore said that the 2025 home-opener 'felt different.' 'Last year, our home opener at the Saddledome was a little wonky, just because of the presentation and stuff like that,' he said. 'We had a little presentation today and some guys were losing focus, but we came out strong, I'm glad they didn't let that affect them.' However bleak for Surge fans, the team's opening games away from home helped connect a mostly unfamiliar group. Canales said that team chemistry has been 'a big' part of the team's success so far. 'We want to use it to our advantage. You're together at airports, you're together at meals and we wanted to use that as an opportunity to build chemistry,' he said. 'It's connected us early, we've been at airports, on buses, on Ubers, we've been together.' Brown III said that being with your teammates off the floor directly impacts on-court production. 'Doing things with your teammates actually helps you build chemistry. Now let's say you're my teammate, he messed up something, he knows you have his back in the game, but you have my back in life,' he said. As a new roommate of Jameer Nelson Jr., Brown III said the pairing mostly keep to themselves. 'I just let him be him, he lets me be me, we co-exist,' he said. 'Day to day, cleaning, cooking, we don't even say anything, he'll tackle the dishes, I'll tackle the stove top clean up, we just on one accord.' For a full-game box score, visit The team continues their season Thursday, against the Brampton Honey Badgers .
Calgary Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
'I love our group': Surge hope to bring championship to Calgary in third CEBL season
Success off the court has defined the Calgary Surge in its first two years of existence … Article content Article content Far reaching into the community, with even more planned for 2025. Article content On the floor, fortunes have been pretty darn good, as well. Article content But an elusive Canadian Elite Basketball League championship is still on the wish-list for the team that's now in transition and set for its home tip-off this weekend. Article content Article content 'It's just a great environment to want to win in and want to perform in,' said Surge veteran Sean 'Rugzy' Miller-Moore, ahead of Sunday's home opener against the Winnipeg Sea Bears at WinSport Events Centre (2 p.m., TSN+/CEBL+). 'So I think that's why we always have success on the basketball court, just because of how things are around here. Article content Article content 'It's just an amazing program. So anyone could come in and fit in easily and want to win.' Article content Good thing, because Year 3 — billed as 'Trilogy' by the team — brings many a change to the Surge, as is often the case in the CEBL. Article content Not only is that evident at head coach, which sees long-time NBA assistant Kaleb Canales take over from Tyrell Vernon, marking a new man at the helm for the third time in three years, but there's been plenty of turnover on the court, as well. Article content 'Yeah … it feels like a reset — a reset, for sure,' said Miller-Moore, who's been a part of two CEBL Championship Weekends — but without a crown to show from that final four — with the Surge. 'Your common goal is to win a championship, and when you don't, you have to reset. But we all have that common goal. Article content Article content 'And no knock on last year, but I feel like it's more of a professional environment,' added Miller-Moore. 'Having coach Kaleb with his NBA experience and having other guys with the NBA experience, I think there's just more energy. The time we use — like let's say we get two hours in the gym — is very efficient. Article content Yes … there is certainly an NBA feel to the roster, with guard Khyri Thomas and forward Greg Brown III having played two seasons each with the Detroit Pistons and the Portland Trail Blazers respectively. The 2025 edition of the Surge also includes a couple of Calgarians — Will Tong, a CEBL draft pick this spring, and rookie pro Olumide Adelodun — and a pair key returnees — Miller-Moore and big forward Gabe Osabuohien.
Hamilton Spectator
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Third times the charm' message echoes as Calgary Surge begin training camp
Returning star 'Rugzy' Miller-Moore, Head Coach Kaleb Canales and General Manager Shane James all highlighted the team's priority of winning a championship in their third season. Calgary Surge began training camp on Monday. It was the first official practice before the 2025 season. The team has made the championship weekend in each of its first two seasons, but both seasons ended on a sour note, losing in the championship game in their inaugural year and finishing as a semi-finalist last year. General Manager Shane James said that his team 'aimed for the stars' throughout the off-season, signing as many players with NBA experience as possible. The team signed Khyri Thomas and Greg Brown III , the two highest draft picks to play in the CEBL, as well as new head coach Kaleb Canales , the first-ever CEBL head coach with NBA head coaching experience. James said the team is the most talented it has ever been. He called Canales 'what you need to win a championship,' and said the coach was a culture builder. 'The players have connected with him well through training camp, which is amazing, he's been a great communicator,' he said. Canales, who spent part of a season coaching the Portland Trailblazers, said he was honoured to be the first coach in CEBL history to have NBA Head-Coaching experience and will appreciate the memories but is focused on the season ahead. 'Right now, just having tunnel vision and trying to bring a championship to Calgary,' he said. James called the Surge game at the Saddledome the most exciting game of the year. With the 'Dome game to be played at the end of the year, James said it will be just what the team needs heading into playoffs. Miller-Moore said the dome was like an NBA environment. He hopes the team will break the record for the highest-attended CEBL game, a record that was set at last year's Saddledome game. Miller-Moore, who is returning for his third season with the team, said that working on his shooting ability was his top priority in between CEBL seasons. 'I always thought I was a good shooter, but a lot of thinking goes into it. I'll say my shooting ability is probably going to surprise people,' the three-time CEBL All-Star said. 'Hopefully, we can bring a championship to Calgary.' Miller-Moore said that the team will continue the momentum built at the end of last season, prioritizing speed and a fluid offence. 'The fans like when we play fast and we jump and we're dunking and we're shooting a lot, and honestly, we like playing like that, too. That's our game,' he said. 'If we can speed up the opposing team and just get on fast-breaks and play without plays and setting up offense, that's how we want to play.' Miller-Moore said that he doesn't view the Edmonton Stingers as a rival, but he does want to be the best team in Alberta. The Surge open their season in Edmonton on May 11.
