The championship series of the Canadian Elite Basketball League will feature the Brampton Honey Badgers against the Winnipeg Sea Bears following victories in their respective conference finals on Saturday. Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, led the Sea Bears to a 107-96 win over the Vancouver Bandits in the Western Conference Final. Meanwhile, the Honey Badgers secured the Eastern title with a 91-81 victory over the Niagara River Lions. This season marks the first time the league champion will be determined by a series instead of a single game.
The upcoming series will kick off with Game 1 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with Brampton hosting the first game before shifting to Winnipeg for Game 2 and potentially Game 3. Moon’s stellar performance, scoring 24 points, guided the Sea Bears to their first-ever final, along with Simon Hildebrandt’s 24-point contribution and Isiah Osborne’s game-winning three-pointer.
Moon and Hildebrandt’s impressive three-point shooting helped Winnipeg secure their second playoff win. Moon, aged 31, returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year absence. On the other side, Brampton’s victory saw standout performances from Sean East II, Trentyn Flowers, and Tyrese Hunter, who all played key roles in defeating the River Lions.
The Honey Badgers could join the exclusive group of teams that have won two CEBL championships, including Niagara and the Edmonton Stingers. The series promises an exciting showdown between two formidable teams aiming to claim the league title.