The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) title by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the single-game championship on Saturday. Simon Hildebrandt, a local favorite, sealed the victory with a three-pointer when the target score was set at 97, 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, and contributed seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, who returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus, earned his third Finals MVP award, guiding Winnipeg to victory despite the absence of the injured star forward Teddy Allen.
Moon expressed his joy at winning in a city that had never won a playoff game before, emphasizing the significance of this win. Jelani Watson-Gayle, a Sea Bears guard, impressed with five three-pointers off the bench, while Hildebrandt added four threes and scored 24 points.
On the opposing side, Sean East II of the Honey Badgers led his team with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers who added 20. Despite trailing 46-42 at halftime and 73-60 going into the final quarter, Brampton fell short in their bid for victory.
The Sea Bears’ new head coach, Mike Raimbault, expressed his pride in the organization’s deserving championship win, highlighting the hard work that led to their success.
Originally planned as a three-game series, the championship had to revert to a single-game format after the first game was suspended and then canceled due to court conditions. The Sea Bears overcame the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs, while the Honey Badgers defeated the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs to reach the final.
Both teams fought hard, with East II acknowledging the progress made by the Brampton program despite falling short in the championship game.