Xavier Moon Makes His Sea Bears Debut as Winnipeg Hosts Montréal Sunday
The moment Sea Bears Nation has been waiting for is finally here, three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon suits up for the first time as a Sea Bear on Sunday, July 19 when Winnipeg hosts the Montréal Alliance at Canada Life Centre. Tip-off is at 5:00 p.m. CT.
After waiting on international clearance, Xavier Moon is ready. The three-time CEBL Most Valuable Player has been activated and will make his 2026 Sea Bears debut on Sunday against a Montréal Alliance team that handed Winnipeg a loss earlier this season. What Moon brings is no secret, he is the most decorated player in CEBL history, and the Sea Bears are finally getting him on the floor.
The backdrop couldn't be more fitting. Winnipeg comes in off a 93-85 road loss in Calgary Friday night, hungry to respond at home. For Jelani Watson-Gayle, Sunday carries its own significance. The guard made his 2026 debut last week in Saskatoon and will step inside Canada Life Centre for the first time since playing for the Sea Bears in 2023. "Being in Winnipeg has been one of my favourite places in my career so far," Watson-Gayle said. "I'm really looking forward to getting back." He knows what's at stake too. When asked what motivates the team heading into Sunday, Watson-Gayle didn't hesitate. “We're playing for home court advantage in the playoffs, so that should be enough motivation in itself.”
Winnipeg holds first place in the Western Conference with five games remaining in the regular season. Home court advantage in the playoffs is there for the taking, and Sunday is a chance to take a step toward locking it in against a Montréal side they'll be looking to settle the score with. The Sea Bears have shown all season they're dangerous at Canada Life Centre and now, with Moon in the lineup for the first time, they get to find out what this group can really look like.
Don't miss three-time CEBL MVP Xavier Moon's debut. Get your tickets here.