The Winnipeg Sea Bears secured their first Canadian Elite Basketball League title by defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in a thrilling championship showdown at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. Simon Hildebrandt, a local favorite, clinched the victory with a crucial three-pointer in front of a record-breaking crowd of 12,519 fans.
Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, spearheaded the Sea Bears’ offense with 29 points, shooting an impressive three for four from beyond the arc while also contributing seven rebounds and six assists. Moon, who returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus, was instrumental in guiding Winnipeg to victory despite the absence of their injured star forward, Teddy Allen.
Expressing his joy, Moon remarked, “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.” He emphasized the significance of this championship win for both his teammates and the city of Winnipeg.
Jelani Watson-Gayle shone for the Sea Bears off the bench, sinking a game-high five three-pointers, while Hildebrandt added four threes to his tally of 24 points. Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, supported by Trentyn Flowers with 20 points. Despite trailing at halftime and into the final quarter, Brampton put up a strong fight.
Sea Bears’ head coach, Mike Raimbault, expressed his delight at the team’s victory, acknowledging the organization’s deserving accomplishment. The CEBL originally planned for a three-game series final, but due to unforeseen circumstances in the first game, the format reverted to a single-game championship, as in previous years.
The Sea Bears, finishing second in the Western Conference, overcame tough challenges from the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the playoffs to secure their spot in the final. In contrast, the Honey Badgers, second in the Eastern Conference, navigated past the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions to reach the championship game.
Reflecting on their performance, East II mentioned, “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.”
