Winnipeg Sea Bears win CEBL championship for 1st time in franchise history

The Winnipeg Sea Bears have won their first CEBL championship, marking a significant milestone for the franchise. Although star player Teddy Allen was sidelined with injury, the Sea Bears emerged victorious against the Brampton Honey Badgers with a score of 98-84. The championship game, originally scheduled as a three-game series, was reduced to a single contest due to scheduling constraints and was played on Saturday at Canada Life Centre.

Finals MVP Xavier Moon played a pivotal role for the Sea Bears, scoring 29 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Simon Hildebrandt also contributed significantly with 24 points and six rebounds. Moon expressed his excitement, stating, "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."

Sean East the Second led the Honey Badgers with 27 points and five assists, while Trentyn Flowers added 20 points. The Sea Bears, who secured second place in the Western Conference, had to overcome Saskatoon Mamba and Vancouver Bandits in the West playoffs to reach the finals. Similarly, the Honey Badgers, finishing second in the Eastern Conference, defeated Ottawa BlackJacks and Niagara River Lions in the Eastern playoffs.

Despite their hard-fought effort, the Sea Bears conceded defeat, with East II acknowledging, "We fought hard. We dealt with adversity. Not the outcome we wanted. We turned the Brampton program around so we can be happy about that for sure." The Sea Bears' triumph, however, is a cause for celebration, representing a significant achievement for the team and the city of Winnipeg.