The Winnipeg Sea Bears and the Brampton Honey Badgers secured victories in their conference finals on Saturday, advancing to the Canadian Elite Basketball League championship series. In the Western Conference Final, the Sea Bears, led by three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon, defeated the Vancouver Bandits 107-96. This win sets up a best-of-three final series against the Honey Badgers, who triumphed over the Niagara River Lions 91-81 in the Eastern Conference Final.
This championship will mark the first time the league determines the champion through a series rather than a single-game format. The series will kick off with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with Brampton hosting the game as the lower seed before shifting to Winnipeg for Game 2 and Game 3 if needed.
Moon’s stellar performance, scoring 24 points, propelled the Sea Bears to their first-ever final, with Winnipeg native Simon Hildebrandt also contributing 24 points. Isiah Osborne sealed the victory with a game-winning three-point shot. Moon and Hildebrandt each made four three-pointers, aiding Winnipeg in winning their second playoff game.
In another game, Brampton’s Tyrese Hunter hit a game-winning three-pointer, securing the Honey Badgers’ spot in the championship series. Sean East II led the team with 22 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. The Honey Badgers could potentially join the exclusive club of Niagara and the Edmonton Stingers as the only teams to win two CEBL championships.
The CEBL Finals promise an exciting showdown between the Sea Bears and the Honey Badgers, showcasing top basketball talent in the league.