The Winnipeg Sea Bears are Canadian Elite Basketball League champions for the first time after defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the league’s single-game championship on Saturday.
Hometown hero Simon Hildebrandt hits winning 3-pointer in front of record crowd
CBC Sports
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The Winnipeg Sea Bears are Canadian Elite Basketball League champions for the first time after defeating the Brampton Honey Badgers 98-84 in the league’s single-game championship on Saturday.
With the target score set at 97, hometown hero Simon Hildebrandt hit the championship-winning three-pointer in front of a CEBL-record crowd of 12,519 at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.
Three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon led the Sea Bears in scoring with 29 points, going three for four from three-point range, while adding seven rebounds and six assists.
Moon, who made his CEBL return this season after five years away, captured his third Finals MVP award after helping Winnipeg overcome the absence of injured star forward Teddy Allen.
WATCH | Sea Bears defeat Honey Badgers to claim 1st CEBL title: Winnipeg Sea Bears defeat Brampton Honey Badgers to claim 1st CEBL championship title August 15| Duration 4:56
"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," said Moon.
"This one is a lot more special than the first one. So, like I've been saying, man, I'm happy for my teammates, and I'm happy for the city of Winnipeg."
Sea Bears guard Jelani Watson-Gayle hit a game-high five three-pointers off the bench.
Hildebrandt added four threes while finishing with 24 points.
Honey Badgers star Sean East II led his team with 27 points, with fellow guard Trentyn Flowers adding 20. Brampton trailed 46-42 at halftime and 73-60 heading into the final quarter.
"I'm just super happy for everybody that is out there celebrating today and that it came to fruition because the organization did definitely deserve a championship," said Sea Bears new head coach Mike Raimbault.
WATCH | Sea Bears hoist the championship trophy: Winnipeg Sea Bears hoist the CEBL Championship Trophy for the first time August 15| Duration 0:23
The CEBL championship was intended to be a three-game series concluding Sunday, but Wednesday's first game at Brampton's CAA Centre was suspended early due to condensation on the court, and then cancelled.
The league then said a three-game final couldn't be completed within the scheduled window, and after consulting with both clubs, opted to return to a single-game format used from 2019 to 2025 to determine the champion.
The Honey Badgers were looking to capture their second CEBL championship after winning the title in 2022, when the franchise was based in Hamilton.
The Sea Bears, who finished second in the Western Conference, defeated the Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs to reach the final.
The Honey Badgers, who finished second in the Eastern Conference, defeated the Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the East playoffs to reach the final.
"We fought hard. We dealt with adversity. Not the outcome we wanted," East II said. "We turned the Brampton program around so we can be happy about that for sure."
With files from The Canadian Press
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