The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League title by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the league’s single-game championship on Saturday. Simon Hildebrandt, a local star, sealed the victory with a 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, and 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, helping Winnipeg overcome the absence of injured forward Teddy Allen.
Moon expressed his joy at winning in a city that had never before seen a playoff victory, stating that this championship held special significance for him. Jelani Watson-Gayle, the Sea Bears guard, made a significant impact off the bench with five three-pointers, while Hildebrandt added four threes and scored 24 points.
On the opposing side, Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. Despite trailing 46-42 at halftime and 73-60 going into the final quarter, Brampton couldn’t bridge the gap.
The Sea Bears’ new head coach Mike Raimbault expressed his satisfaction with the team’s well-deserved championship win. The CEBL championship, initially planned as a three-game series, was revised to a single-game format due to unforeseen circumstances, culminating in the Sea Bears’ triumph over the Honey Badgers.
The Sea Bears advanced to the championship by defeating the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs, while the Honey Badgers overcame the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs to secure their spot in the final.
Despite the loss, East II acknowledged the team’s resilience and the positive impact they had on the Brampton program.