The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) championship by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the league’s single-game title match on Saturday. The winning shot came from local hero Simon Hildebrandt, who made a crucial three-pointer in front of a record-breaking crowd of 12,519 at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, with the target score set at 97.
Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, led the Sea Bears with 29 points, shooting three for four from beyond the arc, while also contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, making a comeback to the CEBL after a five-year absence, earned his third Finals MVP award by helping his team overcome the absence of injured star forward Teddy Allen.
Expressing his joy, Moon stated, “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.” Moon 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 by sinking five three-pointers. Hildebrandt, in addition to hitting the championship-winning shot, scored 24 points with four three-pointers.
On the opposing side, Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. Despite trailing at halftime by 46-42 and heading into the final quarter with a deficit of 73-60, the Honey Badgers fought hard.
Following the victory, Sea Bears’ new head coach Mike Raimbault expressed his happiness for the team and the organization, 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.”
Originally planned as a three-game series, the CEBL championship was reduced to a single-game format due to logistical issues. The Sea Bears emerged victorious after defeating the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs, while the Honey Badgers advanced by overcoming the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs.
The Honey Badgers, aiming for their second CEBL championship after their 2022 win when the franchise was based in Hamilton, expressed mixed emotions about the outcome. Sean 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.”
