The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their maiden Canadian Elite Basketball League title by outplaying the Brampton Honey Badgers with a final score of 98-84 in the championship showdown on Saturday. Simon Hildebrandt, hailed as a local hero, sealed the victory with a three-point shot, thrilling a record-breaking CEBL crowd of 12,519 at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.
Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, shone brightly for the Sea Bears, leading the scoring with 29 points, including a stellar three-point shooting performance. Moon also contributed seven rebounds and six assists to guide Winnipeg to victory, overcoming the absence of the injured star forward Teddy Allen.
Expressing his sentiments on the win, Moon remarked, “It’s surreal to relive this environment. Winning is familiar to me, but achieving it in a city that has never tasted playoff success holds deeper significance.” Moon emphasized the special nature of this triumph and expressed joy for his teammates and the city of Winnipeg.
Jelani Watson-Gayle, coming off the bench, made a significant impact by sinking five three-pointers for the Sea Bears. Hildebrandt also shone with 24 points, including four three-pointers of his own. On the opposing side, Sean East II led the Honey Badgers with 27 points, with Trentyn Flowers contributing 20 points. Despite trailing at halftime and heading into the final quarter, Brampton put up a spirited fight.
Newly appointed Sea Bears head coach Mike Raimbault expressed his elation, stating, “I’m immensely proud of everyone celebrating this victory today. The organization truly deserved this championship.”
The CEBL championship, initially planned as a three-game series concluding on Sunday, had to revert to a single-game format due to unforeseen circumstances in the first game at Brampton. The Sea Bears’ journey to glory saw them overcoming the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the playoffs, while the Honey Badgers defeated the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions to reach the final.
Despite their defeat, East II acknowledged the team’s resilience in the face of adversity, noting the positive turnaround of the Brampton program.