Sea Bears without star forward ahead of push for championship weekend
Posted August 6, 2025 3:56 pm.
Last Updated August 6, 2025 8:29 pm.
Despite an up-and-down season thus far, the Winnipeg Sea Bears still have an automatic bid to the CEBL’s Western Conference Finals on championship weekend in just over two weeks, but they’ll have to do it without one of their best players, who was suspended last week.
Starting forward Emmanuel Akot was called up to his national team, South Sudan, but the required 30-day notice was not given to the Sea Bears, meaning Akot’s contract was not released.
However, the Winnipeg-born star went anyway, missing practice in Winnipeg last Thursday, leading to his suspension. Head coach Mike Taylor says they’re preparing to finish the season without him.
“David Asper and our team have really helped [Emmanuel], and they had an agreement in place that [Emmanuel] reneged on. So he has to fix that situation with David before we can even entertain any questions about him returning to the team,” said Mike Taylor, the head coach of the Winnipeg Sea Bears..
CityNews reached out to Akot for comment, but has not heard back at this time. Despite the loss up front, the Sea Bears will have guard Terry Roberts back in the fold for the stretch run, after missing extended time playing in the NBA G League.
“It’s one of those types of leagues where guys can bounce around to different opportunities, and that’s a good thing for each other, but for the team, it makes it tough. But thankfully, we have the luxury of having championship weekend, so we can get our chemistry and our roster to where we want it to be, so we’re ready to go when it gets here,” said Jalen Harris, a guard for the Sea Bears.
With three games remaining in the regular season, the team says there’s plenty of time to get on the same page before championship weekend begins on August 22nd, and they’re looking forward to having their home crowd behind them.
“Having that, you know, you only have to win two games. We have a good team, good situation, and I feel very confident in us and very confident in the fact that [the crowd] can help pull us to the next spot,” said Harris.
Taylor says, “We’ve got a really good team, a really good roster, everything we need to be successful, and its our job to come together here and overcome some of the adversity that steps up throughout the season.”
Adding, “Like we say to the guys, feed the bear, and the bear is sea bear nation, and we feed it with our effort and our energy and our hustle plays, and we really hope to make that an advantage on Championship Weekend.”
The Sea Bears take on powerhouse Niagara on Wednesday night.
