The Winnipeg Sea Bears and the Brampton Honey Badgers emerged victorious in their respective conference finals, securing their spots in the Canadian Elite Basketball League championship series. Three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon led the Sea Bears to a 107-96 win over the Vancouver Bandits, earning them a place in the finals against the Honey Badgers, who defeated the Niagara River Lions 91-81 to claim the Eastern title.
This championship series marks a significant change as it will be decided by a best-of-three format, moving away from the previous single-game format. The first game is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with Brampton hosting Game 1 before the series shifts to Winnipeg for Game 2 and potentially Game 3.
Moon played a pivotal role in leading the Sea Bears to their first-ever final, scoring 24 points in the absence of injured star Teddy Allen. Simon Hildebrandt, a Winnipeg native, also contributed significantly with 24 points, while Isiah Osborne sealed the victory with a game-winning three-point shot.
In another exciting matchup, Brampton’s Tyrese Hunter hit a game-winning three-pointer, finishing with 17 points, to secure the win against the River Lions. Sean East II and Trentyn Flowers also played crucial roles, scoring 22 and 20 points, respectively. On the opposing side, Khalil Ahmad of the River Lions led with 30 points.
With both teams showcasing impressive performances, the upcoming championship series promises to be a thrilling showdown between the Sea Bears and the Honey Badgers.