The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League title by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the championship game on Saturday. Simon Hildebrandt, a local favorite, sealed the victory with a three-pointer in front of a record-breaking crowd of 12,519 at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.
Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, led the Sea Bears with 29 points, shooting three for four from beyond the arc, in addition to contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, who returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year absence, earned his third Finals MVP accolade, guiding Winnipeg to victory despite the absence of injured star forward Teddy Allen.
“I’m thrilled to be back in this atmosphere. Winning is familiar to me, but achieving it in a city that has never won a playoff game holds special significance,” said Moon. He expressed his happiness for his teammates and the city of Winnipeg.
Jelani Watson-Gayle, a guard for the Sea Bears, made a significant impact off the bench with five three-pointers. Hildebrandt also impressed with four three-pointers and a total of 24 points. On the opposing side, Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. Brampton trailed 46-42 at halftime and 73-60 going into the final quarter.
Sea Bears’ head coach Mike Raimbault expressed his joy at the team’s championship win, stating, “I’m incredibly happy for everyone celebrating today. The organization truly deserved this championship.”
Originally planned as a three-game series ending Sunday, the CEBL championship was altered due to court condensation during the first game in Brampton, leading to the cancellation of the series. After consultation with both teams, the decision was made to revert to a single-game format, similar to previous years, to determine the champion.
The Sea Bears, who finished as runners-up in the Western Conference, overcame the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs to secure their spot in the final. The Honey Badgers, finishing second in the Eastern Conference, advanced by defeating the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs.
Despite their efforts, East II acknowledged the team’s disappointment, noting, “We battled through adversity. While the outcome wasn’t what we desired, we can take pride in the progress we’ve made with the Brampton program.”