The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League title by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the championship game held at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. The Sea Bears’ victory was sealed by a championship-winning three-pointer from hometown player Simon Hildebrandt in front of a record crowd of 12,519 fans.
Leading the scoring for the Sea Bears was Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, who contributed 29 points, including three successful three-point shots, along with seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, who returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year absence, earned his third Finals MVP award, helping the team overcome the absence of the injured star forward Teddy Allen.
Moon expressed his excitement about winning the championship in a city that had never seen a playoff victory before, emphasizing the significance of the win. The Sea Bears’ victory was further highlighted by stellar performances from guard Jelani Watson-Gayle, who made five three-pointers off the bench, and Hildebrandt, who scored 24 points, including four three-pointers.
On the opposing side, the Honey Badgers’ star player Sean East II led his team with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. Despite trailing at halftime and heading into the final quarter, Brampton fought hard but fell short against the Sea Bears’ strong performance.
The Sea Bears’ head coach, Mike Raimbault, expressed his pride in the team’s achievement, stating that the organization deserved the championship. The CEBL championship, initially planned as a three-game series, was reverted to a single-game format due to unforeseen circumstances during the first game, which was ultimately canceled.
While the Honey Badgers aimed to secure their second CEBL title after their 2022 victory, the Sea Bears’ journey to the championship included victories over the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs. The Honey Badgers, on the other hand, defeated the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs to reach the final showdown.
Reflecting on their efforts, East II acknowledged the challenges faced by the Brampton team but expressed pride in their accomplishments in turning the program around.