The championship series of the Canadian Elite Basketball League will feature the Brampton Honey Badgers against the Winnipeg Sea Bears. Both teams emerged victorious in their respective conference finals on Saturday. The Sea Bears, led by three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon, defeated the Vancouver Bandits 107-96 in the Western Conference Final. This win paves the way for a best-of-three final against the Honey Badgers, who secured the Eastern title by beating the Niagara River Lions 91-81.
This championship series marks a first in the league’s history as the champion will be determined through a series of games rather than a single match. The series will kick off with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with live streaming available on CBC Gem and CBCSports.ca. Brampton, as the lower seed, will host Game 1 before the series moves to Winnipeg for Game 2 and potentially Game 3.
Xavier Moon played a pivotal role in leading the Sea Bears to their first-ever final appearance, scoring 24 points in the absence of injured star player Teddy Allen. Moon was supported by Simon Hildebrandt, who also contributed 24 points, and Isiah Osborne, whose three-point shot sealed the victory for Winnipeg.
Moon and Hildebrandt’s strong performances, including multiple three-pointers each, helped secure Winnipeg’s second playoff victory. Moon, a 31-year-old player, made a remarkable return to the CEBL after a five-year hiatus. On the opposing side, Shamar Givance led Vancouver with 21 points, while Tevin Brown and reigning MVP Mitch Creek added 19 points each in the losing effort.
In the Eastern Conference Final, Brampton guard Tyrese Hunter made a game-winning three-pointer, finishing with five three-pointers in total. The Honey Badgers triumphed over the River Lions, with star player Sean East II scoring 22 points and Trentyn Flowers adding 20 points to secure their spot in the championship series.
The upcoming championship series presents an opportunity for Brampton to join the ranks of Niagara and the Edmonton Stingers as the only teams to win two CEBL championships. The stage is set for an exciting showdown between the Honey Badgers and the Sea Bears in the quest for the league title.
