The Winnipeg Sea Bears emerged victorious as the Canadian Elite Basketball League champions for the first time by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers with a score of 98-84 in the league’s single-game championship on Saturday. The championship-winning three-pointer was sunk by local hero Simon Hildebrandt, setting the target score at 97, in front of a record crowd of 12,519 at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.
Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, led the Sea Bears in scoring with 29 points, shooting three out of four from beyond the arc, in addition to contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, returning to the CEBL after a five-year hiatus, clinched his third Finals MVP award, aiding Winnipeg in overcoming the absence of injured star forward Teddy Allen.
“It’s amazing to be back in this atmosphere. Winning is familiar to me, but doing it in a city that has never won a playoff game holds special significance,” Moon expressed. “This victory is more meaningful than the previous ones. I’m thrilled for my teammates and the city of Winnipeg.”
Jelani Watson-Gayle, a guard for the Sea Bears, excelled with a game-high five three-pointers coming off the bench. Hildebrandt also impressed with four threes and a total of 24 points. Meanwhile, Sean East II, a standout for the Honey Badgers, led his team with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. Brampton trailed 46-42 at halftime and 73-60 going into the final quarter.
“I’m incredibly happy for everyone celebrating today. The organization truly deserved this championship,” stated Sea Bears’ new head coach, Mike Raimbault.
Initially planned as a three-game series concluding on Sunday, the CEBL championship faced disruptions with the first game at Brampton’s CAA Centre being suspended and later canceled due to court condensation. The league, after consulting with both teams, reverted to a single-game format used in previous years to determine the champion.
The Sea Bears, finishing second in the Western Conference, overcame the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs to secure their spot in the final. On the other hand, the Honey Badgers, finishing second in the Eastern Conference, triumphed over the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs to reach the championship game.
“We fought hard and dealt with adversity. Although it wasn’t the desired outcome, we turned the Brampton program around, and that is something to be proud of,” reflected East II on the Honey Badgers’ efforts.