The matchup for the Canadian Elite Basketball League championship series is now set with the Brampton Honey Badgers set to face the Winnipeg Sea Bears. Both teams emerged victorious in their conference finals over the weekend to secure a spot in the finals.
In the Western Conference Final, the Sea Bears, led by three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon, defeated the Vancouver Bandits with a score of 107-96. This win advanced them to the championship series against 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 series will kick off with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with Brampton hosting the game before heading to Winnipeg for Game 2 and a potential Game 3.
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 significantly with 24 points, while Isiah Osborne sealed the victory with a game-winning three-point shot.
Moon and Hildebrandt’s stellar performance, including four three-pointers each, propelled Winnipeg to their second playoff victory. Moon, aged 31, returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus.
On the other side, Brampton’s victory saw standout performances from players like Tyrese Hunter, who made a game-winning three-pointer. Sean East II and Trentyn Flowers also excelled, contributing 22 and 20 points, respectively. The Honey Badgers now have a chance to join an exclusive group of teams to win two CEBL championships, alongside Niagara and the Edmonton Stingers.