The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League title by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers with a score of 98-84 in the league’s single-game championship showdown on Saturday. Simon Hildebrandt, a local favorite, scored the decisive three-pointer with the target set at 97 points in front of a record crowd of 12,519 at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre.
Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, led the Sea Bears with 29 points, shooting three out of four from beyond the arc, in addition to contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, making a comeback to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus, secured his third Finals MVP accolade, aiding Winnipeg in overcoming the absence of injured star forward Teddy Allen.
Moon expressed his joy stating, “It’s crazy to be back in this environment again. I mean, obviously, familiar territory for me for winning, but to do it in a city that’s never won a playoff game, I think it means a lot more. This one is a lot more special than the first one. So, like I’ve been saying, man, I’m happy for my teammates, and I’m happy for the city of Winnipeg.”
Jelani Watson-Gayle, playing off the bench for the Sea Bears, nailed five crucial three-pointers, while Hildebrandt contributed with four threes, ending the game with 24 points. The Honey Badgers’ Sean East II led his team with 27 points, with Trentyn Flowers adding 20 points. Despite trailing 46-42 at halftime and 73-60 going into the final quarter, Brampton couldn’t secure the win.
Sea Bears’ new head coach Mike Raimbault expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m just super happy for everybody that is out there celebrating today and that it came to fruition because the organization did definitely deserve a championship.”
Originally planned as a three-game series, the CEBL championship was altered to a single-game format due to unforeseen circumstances during the first game. The Sea Bears emerged victorious after defeating the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits, while the Honey Badgers overcame the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions to reach the final.
Despite their efforts, East II of the Honey Badgers acknowledged the team’s resilience, stating, “We fought hard. We dealt with adversity. Not the outcome we wanted. We turned the Brampton program around so we can be happy about that for sure.”