The Canadian Elite Basketball League championship series will feature the Brampton Honey Badgers against the Winnipeg Sea Bears following their victories in the conference finals on Saturday. In the Western Conference Final, the Sea Bears, led by three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon, defeated the Vancouver Bandits 107-96. This win set up a best-of-three final with the Honey Badgers, who secured the Eastern title by beating the Niagara River Lions 91-81.
This season marks the first time the league champion will be determined through a series format rather than a single-game setup. The championship series will kick off with Game 1 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with Brampton hosting the game before the series moves to Winnipeg for Games 2 and 3 if necessary.
Moon played a pivotal role in leading the Sea Bears to their first-ever final, scoring 24 points in the absence of injured star Teddy Allen. Winnipeg native Simon Hildebrandt also contributed 24 points, with Isiah Osborne hitting the game-winning three-pointer to seal the victory at the Langley Events Centre.
Moon and Hildebrandt’s combined four three-pointers helped Winnipeg secure their second playoff win. Additionally, Moon’s return to the CEBL after five years was marked by his impressive performance in the finals. In the Vancouver Bandits’ loss, Shamar Givance led with 21 points, while Tevin Brown and MVP Mitch Creek each added 19 points, with Brown recording five three-pointers.
Brampton’s victory over the River Lions was fueled by Tyrese Hunter’s game-winning three-pointer, his fifth of the game. Star players Sean East II and Trentyn Flowers contributed significantly with 22 and 20 points, respectively. River Lions’ guard Khalil Ahmad led with 30 points in a losing effort.
With this victory, Brampton has the opportunity to join the select few teams, including Niagara and the Edmonton Stingers, as two-time CEBL champions. The upcoming championship series promises an exciting showdown between the Honey Badgers and the Sea Bears, showcasing top-tier basketball talent and intense competition.