The Winnipeg Sea Bears claimed their first-ever Canadian Elite Basketball League championship by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the league’s single-game title match on Saturday. The game, witnessed by a record crowd of 12,519 at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, saw Simon Hildebrandt, a local favorite, sealing the victory with a three-pointer when the target score was 97.
Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, led the Sea Bears with 29 points, shooting three for four from beyond the arc, and contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, who returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus, secured his third Finals MVP accolade, guiding Winnipeg to victory despite the absence of injured star forward Teddy Allen.
Moon expressed his joy about winning in a city that had never seen a playoff victory before, emphasizing the significance of this championship. Jelani Watson-Gayle, a guard for the Sea Bears, was instrumental off the bench, sinking five three-pointers. Hildebrandt also shone, registering 24 points with four three-pointers.
On the opposing side, Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, while Trentyn Flowers chipped in with 20 points. Despite trailing at halftime and heading into the final quarter, Brampton couldn’t overturn the deficit. Sea Bears’ head coach, Mike Raimbault, credited the organization for deserving the championship.
Originally planned as a three-game series, the CEBL championship was reduced to a single-game format due to unforeseen circumstances during the first game in Brampton. The Sea Bears had a successful playoff run by defeating the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits, while the Honey Badgers overcame the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions to reach the final.
Reflecting on their performance, East II acknowledged the team’s resilience and noted the progress made by the Brampton program despite falling short in the championship game.