The Winnipeg Sea Bears secured their first-ever Canadian Elite Basketball League championship by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the single-game final on Saturday. Simon Hildebrandt, a local favorite, sealed the victory with a game-winning three-pointer 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 with 29 points, shooting three for four from beyond the arc, along with contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, who returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus, earned his third Finals MVP accolade for 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 special significance of this championship. Jelani Watson-Gayle of the Sea Bears made a significant impact off the bench by sinking five three-pointers, while Hildebrandt added 24 points, including four three-pointers.
On the opposing side, Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. Despite trailing at halftime and heading into the final quarter, Brampton couldn’t overcome the Sea Bears’ strong performance.
Sea Bears’ head coach, Mike Raimbault, commended the team for their well-deserved championship win, highlighting the organization’s efforts in achieving this milestone. The CEBL championship, initially planned as a three-game series, was reverted to a single-game format due to scheduling constraints after the first game was disrupted and then canceled.
The Sea Bears, coming in second in the Western Conference, advanced to the final by defeating the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs. Meanwhile, the Honey Badgers, finishing second in the Eastern Conference, earned their spot in the final by overcoming the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs.
Although the Honey Badgers aimed for their second CEBL title after winning in 2022, the Sea Bears emerged victorious, claiming their first championship in a thrilling showdown. East II acknowledged the team’s efforts and the progress made in reshaping the Brampton program despite falling short in the final game.