The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League championship by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers with a score of 98-84 in a single-game showdown on Saturday. The decisive moment came when Simon Hildebrandt, a local favorite, sank a three-point shot, securing the victory 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 out of four from beyond the arc, and contributed seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, who returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year absence, earned his third Finals MVP accolade, aiding Winnipeg in overcoming the absence of the injured star forward Teddy Allen.
Moon expressed his elation, 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.” He emphasized the significance of this victory for both his teammates and the city of Winnipeg.
Jelani Watson-Gayle, a guard for the Sea Bears, made a notable impact off the bench with five successful three-pointers. Hildebrandt, who contributed 24 points, also made four three-point shots. On the opposing side, Sean East II of the Honey Badgers led his team 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 could not turn the tide in their favor.
The Sea Bears’ new head coach, Mike Raimbault, expressed his joy, stating, “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.”
Initially planned as a three-game series, the CEBL championship was altered to a single-game format due to unforeseen circumstances. The Honey Badgers were aiming to secure their second CEBL championship after their victory in 2022 when the franchise was located in Hamilton. The Sea Bears, finishing second in the Western Conference, navigated through the playoffs by overcoming the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits. Similarly, the Honey Badgers, placing second in the Eastern Conference, triumphed over the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs to reach the final showdown.
Reflecting on the game, East II remarked, “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.”