The Brampton Honey Badgers and the Winnipeg Sea Bears are set to clash in the Canadian Elite Basketball League championship series following their triumphs in the conference finals over the weekend. Xavier Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, propelled the Sea Bears past the Vancouver Bandits with a 107-96 victory in the Western Conference Final. This win paved the way for a best-of-three final series against the Honey Badgers, who secured the Eastern title by defeating the Niagara River Lions 91-81.

This championship series marks a shift from the previous single-game format to a series format for the first time in the league’s history. Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with Brampton hosting the initial match before the series moves to Winnipeg for Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3. Moon played a pivotal role in leading the Sea Bears to their first-ever final, scoring 24 points in the absence of star player Teddy Allen, who sustained serious injuries recently in an altercation with nightclub security in downtown Winnipeg.

In the crucial victory, Winnipeg’s Simon Hildebrandt also contributed 24 points, and Isiah Osborne sealed the win with a game-winning three-pointer, reaching the target score of 106 at the Langley Events Centre. Moon and Hildebrandt’s sharpshooting, including four three-pointers each, propelled Winnipeg to their second playoff win.

Moon, aged 31, returned to the CEBL this season after a five-year hiatus. On the opposing side, Shamar Givance led the Vancouver Bandits with 21 points, while Tevin Brown and reigning MVP Mitch Creek added 19 points each in the defeat, with Brown sinking five three-pointers.

For Brampton, Tyrese Hunter’s game-winning three-pointer, his fifth of the game, was instrumental in the Honey Badgers’ victory over the River Lions. Sean East II shone with 22 points, and Trentyn Flowers added 20 in the win at the CAA Centre, with Hunter contributing 17 points. River Lions guard Khalil Ahmad led his team with a game-high 30 points.

Brampton now has the opportunity to join Niagara and the Edmonton Stingers as the only teams to claim two CEBL championships. The stage is set for an exciting championship series between the Brampton Honey Badgers and the Winnipeg Sea Bears as both teams vie for the coveted title in the upcoming games.