The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League title by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the league’s championship game. The game took place at the Canada Life Centre in front of a record crowd of 12,519 fans. Simon Hildebrandt, a local player, sealed the victory with a three-pointer when the target score was 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 contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, returning to the CEBL after a five-year hiatus, was instrumental in overcoming the absence of injured star forward Teddy Allen, earning his third Finals MVP award.
Moon expressed his joy at winning the championship in a city that had never won a playoff game before. Jelani Watson-Gayle, coming off the bench, made a significant impact by hitting five three-pointers, while Hildebrandt added four threes and scored 24 points.
On the opposing side, Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, with Trentyn Flowers adding 20 points. Despite trailing at halftime and heading into the final quarter, Brampton couldn’t secure the win. Sea Bears’ head coach Mike Raimbault praised the organization for deserving the championship.
Initially planned as a three-game series, the CEBL championship had to revert to a single-game format due to scheduling constraints. The Honey Badgers were aiming for their second title, having won in 2022. The Sea Bears and Honey Badgers advanced to the final by overcoming opponents in their respective playoff brackets.
East II acknowledged the team’s efforts and the turnaround of the Brampton program despite falling short in the championship game.