The Canadian Elite Basketball League has decided to switch to a single-game championship format following the cancellation of the best-of-three final between the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Brampton Honey Badgers due to unsafe playing conditions caused by court condensation. This decision came shortly after the game was halted during the first quarter, with the score tied at 6-6.
The one-game championship will now take place in Winnipeg on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, marking a return to the previous format used from 2019 to 2025. The league stated that the one-game championship was deemed the fairest and most practical way to crown a champion after the best-of-three series could not be completed within the allotted time frame.
Brampton had initially taken the lead in the canceled game, but the slip by Sea Bears’ Xavier Moon led to the game being stopped. Both teams had previously met twice in the season, with Brampton winning both encounters.
Honey Badgers CEO Al Whitley expressed regret over the game’s cancellation. The Sea Bears and Honey Badgers are now set to compete in the championship, with Winnipeg eyeing its first title and Brampton aiming to add to their 2022 CEBL championship.
The Sea Bears’ journey to the finals included victories over the Saskatoon Mamba and the favored Vancouver Bandits. On the other hand, the Honey Badgers overcame the Ottawa BlackJacks and the Niagara River Lions to secure their spot in the championship series.
Notably, the championship matchup will feature a unique off-court narrative, as the Sea Bears and Honey Badgers are owned by siblings David Asper and Leonard Asper, respectively. The upcoming single-game final promises an exciting conclusion to the CEBL season for fans, with the game set to be broadcast on CBC platforms.