The Brampton Honey Badgers are set to compete against the Winnipeg Sea Bears in the Canadian Elite Basketball League championship series following their victorious performances in the conference finals on Saturday. Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, played a key role in leading the Sea Bears to a 107-96 victory over the Vancouver Bandits in the Western Conference Final. This win paves the way for a best-of-three final showdown with the Honey Badgers, who secured the Eastern title by defeating the Niagara River Lions 91-81.
For 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 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 competition shifts to Winnipeg for Game 2 and a potential Game 3.
Xavier Moon shone brightly for the Sea Bears, scoring 24 points and guiding the team to their first-ever final appearance, especially in the absence of injured star player Teddy Allen. Winnipeg native Simon Hildebrandt also delivered an impressive 24-point performance, with Isiah Osborne sealing the victory with a game-winning three-pointer.
Moon and Hildebrandt’s sharp shooting from beyond the arc played a crucial role in securing Winnipeg’s second playoff game win. Moon, aged 31, made a remarkable return to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus. On the opposing side, Shamar Givance led the Vancouver Bandits with 21 points, supported by Tevin Brown and reigning MVP Mitch Creek, who contributed 19 points each.
In another thrilling matchup, Brampton’s Tyrese Hunter clinched a game-winning three-pointer, his fifth of the game, leading the Honey Badgers to victory over the River Lions in a closely contested game. With standout performances from stars like Sean East II and Trentyn Flowers, Brampton is aiming to join an elite group of teams that have won two CEBL championships.
The upcoming championship series promises to be an exciting clash between two talented teams, as the Brampton Honey Badgers and the Winnipeg Sea Bears vie for the coveted CEBL title.