Saskatoon set to host inaugural CEBL Championship Weekend

Championship weekend has arrived in Saskatoon.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is wrapping up its inaugural season with a tournament between the top four teams, but the action on the court is just a fraction of what’s in store.

Saskatchewan Rattlers president Lee Genier spoke with Brent Loucks to discuss all the events taking place over the weekend.

“It’s kind of like a final four meets Grey Cup festival,” he said. “It brings a lot of the best of the worlds together.”

Teams will practice at SaskTel Centre Thursday, ahead of the league’s award show at the Hotel Sheraton Cavalier.

On Friday, a section of downtown will be closed for an all-day street festival going from noon until 9 p.m. Friday. Food trucks, live music and a 3×3 basketball tournament are all part of the day’s activities that wrap up with Ontario-based rockers, USS, at 8 p.m.

“The downtown core right along 21st Street and 4th Avenue is closed off. We have the Raptors DJ coming and spinning some tracks there. It’s going to be a great party downtown,” Genier said.

4 Korners, who plays music at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto for each Raptors home game, is a featured performer throughout the weekend.

Saturday is when the CEBL’s best take over, with the hometown Rattlers taking on the Edmonton Stingers at 1 p.m. The next semifinal is between the Niagara River Lions and the Hamilton Honey Badgers.

The winners of each matchup will face off in the championship final on Sunday at 4 p.m.

“It’s really like a final four-type matchup and this is our championship, and the Rattlers right now are one of the hottest teams in the league, so it’s very exciting,” Genier said.