The Winnipeg Sea Bears secured their first Canadian Elite Basketball League championship by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in a high-stakes single-game final on Saturday. The crucial moment came when local hero Simon Hildebrandt sank a three-pointer to clinch 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 an impressive 29-point performance, making a significant impact with his three-point shooting, rebounds, and assists. Moon, who returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus, was instrumental in overcoming the absence of the injured star forward Teddy Allen and was rightfully awarded his third Finals MVP title.
Moon expressed his joy at winning in a city that had never before seen a playoff victory, emphasizing the special significance of this win for him and his teammates. Jelani Watson-Gayle stood out for the Sea Bears with five three-pointers off the bench, while Hildebrandt contributed significantly with four three-pointers and a total of 24 points.
On the opposing side, Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. Despite their efforts, Brampton found themselves trailing at halftime and heading into the final quarter, ultimately falling short in their quest for a second CEBL championship.
The Sea Bears’ new head coach, Mike Raimbault, commended the organization for deserving the championship and expressed his happiness for the team and fans. The championship series was originally planned as a three-game showdown but reverted to a single-game format due to scheduling constraints, culminating in the Sea Bears’ historic triumph over the Honey Badgers.
Both teams had fought through tough playoff matchups to reach the final, with the Sea Bears overcoming the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits, and the Honey Badgers prevailing against the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions. Despite the disappointment of falling short in the championship game, East II acknowledged the progress made by the Brampton team in turning their program around.