The Winnipeg Sea Bears have advanced to the Canadian Elite Basketball League Championship Final for the first time in franchise history after defeating the Vancouver Bandits 107-96 in the Western Conference Final on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
Shorthanded, tested and playing more than 2,000 kilometres from home, Winnipeg delivered a historic road performance despite missing three starters. No previous Sea Bears team had advanced this far in the CEBL playoffs.
Simon Hildebrandt led the way with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including four three-pointers, providing a steady presence throughout the afternoon.
“It means a lot,” Hildebrandt said. “We’ve battled a lot of adversity this year. It’s been our goal since day one. Playing as a true team today, we made it work.”
The Sea Bears faced adversity almost immediately. Xavier Moon collected three fouls during the opening six-and-a-half minutes and remained on the bench for the rest of the first quarter and the entire second quarter. D.J. Burns also encountered foul trouble, picking up three fouls during the second quarter and spending an extended stretch on the bench.
Moon remained engaged before returning to finish with 24 points.
“It was real tough, not being able to play,” Moon said. “I tried to stay engaged, keep the guys as focused as I could. And once I got back in there, I just tried to keep doing what I was doing in that first quarter.”
Despite playing without starters Teddy Allen, Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. and Emmanuel Akot, Winnipeg’s depth proved decisive. Hildebrandt and Moon scored 24 points apiece, while Trey McGowens added 18, Burns contributed 14 and Isiah Osborne finished with 13. Jelani Watson-Gayle provided another 11 points off the bench.
“We had so many guys come in and give big contributions,” Hildebrandt said. “That next man up mentality was just unbelievable.”
Osborne added another milestone by recording his fifth target-score winning basket of the season. The total ties the Sea Bears franchise record established by Watson-Gayle in 2023 and matched by Jalen Harris in 2025.
The Western Conference championship sends Winnipeg to the CEBL Championship series against the Brampton Honey Badgers. Game 1 will be played in Brampton on Wednesday, August 12.
The series will then shift to Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg for Game 2 on Saturday, August 15 at 2:30 p.m. CT. If required, Game 3 will also be played at Canada Life Centre on Sunday, August 16 at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Tickets for the championship games are available at seabears.ca.
Source: Winnipeg Sea Bears
