The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) title by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers with a score of 98-84 in the championship game on Saturday. Simon Hildebrandt, a local favorite, secured the victory with a three-pointer 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, along with contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, making a comeback to the league after five years, earned his third Finals MVP honor by helping Winnipeg overcome the absence of the injured star forward Teddy Allen.
Moon expressed his joy about the win, stating, “It’s crazy to be back in this environment again…I’m happy for my teammates and the city of Winnipeg.” Jelani Watson-Gayle of the Sea Bears sank five three-pointers, while Hildebrandt added four threes and scored 24 points.
Sean East II, a standout player for the Honey Badgers, led his team with 27 points, with Trentyn Flowers adding 20 points. Despite trailing at halftime and heading into the final quarter, Brampton couldn’t overturn the deficit.
The Sea Bears’ new head coach, Mike Raimbault, emphasized the organization’s deserving victory, saying, “I’m just super happy for everybody that is out there celebrating today.”
Initially planned as a three-game series, the CEBL championship reverted to a single-game format due to court condensation issues that led to the cancellation of a game. The Sea Bears, finishing second in the Western Conference, overcame the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits to reach the final, while the Honey Badgers, finishing second in the Eastern Conference, defeated the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions.
The Honey Badgers, aiming for their second CEBL title after their 2022 victory, acknowledged their efforts and the turnaround of their program. Despite falling short, East II mentioned, “We turned the Brampton program around so we can be happy about that for sure.”
The CEBL championship game witnessed a thrilling showdown between the Sea Bears and the Honey Badgers, culminating in Winnipeg’s historic triumph.
