CEBL Championships set to tipoff in Winnipeg

CEBL Championship Weekend officially got underway on Wednesday, with commissioner Mike Morreale welcoming the teams to Winnipeg ahead of tip-off on Friday.

While also paying tribute to the integral role that Winnipeg has played in the continued success of the league.

“This franchise, this building, has played a monumental role in the CEBL, the future of the CEBL, the current of the CEBL, and I just can’t wait to see the exciting plays, the exciting teams, and the exciting moments that will live in history from this event,” said Morreale.

“This is what it is all about, the players on the court, the coaches on the bench, the fans in the stands, the intensity of the game, everything around it, this is a celebration of Canadian basketball.”

The host Sea Bears enter as the underdogs of championship weekend, following an up-and-down 11-13 regular season, but don’t tell that to head coach Mike Taylor, who believes his team has rounded into form just in time for championship weekend.

“We’ve arrived in a good place, and we are really looking forward to this weekend. It’s definitly a unique challenge, but again I’m really proud of how our guys have handled it throughout the year,” said Taylor.

Of course, if you are going to be the best, you have to beat the best. In the CEBL, that title belongs to the Niagara River Lions, one they will look to defend this weekend. For head coach Victor Raso, it’s always a special opportunity to represent the best of Canadian basketball.

“Yeah, you can’t really compare this thing to anything, honestly, it’s like wow, we are here, this has grown to the level that it has, it’s really cool,” said Raso.

One giant presence that will be missed this weekend will be that of the late Chad Posthumus, who fatefully passed away last off-season. But Coach Taylor knows their former captain will be right there with them come tipoff.

“We loved him; he was such a big part of our organization and city, and I really believe he is with us now in spirit. No one would’ve loved to have been a part of this event more,” said Taylor.

Action will get underway on Friday with a semi-final double header at Canada Life Centre, with tip-off for Game 1 set for 5:30 p.m. Central.