Lebanese Basketball League

Last updated
Lebanese Basketball League
Organising body Lebanese Basketball Federation (LFB)
Founded1951
1992 (Current format)
First season1951–52
CountryFlag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon
Confederation FIBA Asia (Asia)
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toDivision 2
Domestic cup(s) Lebanese Cup
International cup(s) Basketball Champions League Asia
FIBA West Asia Super League
Arab Club Basketball Championship
Current champions Al Riyadi (31th title)
(2023–24)
Most championships Al Riyadi (31 titles)
TV partners MTV (Lebanon)
Website lebanon.basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2023–24 Lebanese Basketball League

The Lebanese Basketball League is recognized as the top-tier professional men's basketball league in Lebanon. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB). [1]

Contents

Currently, the league consists of 12 teams, of which six are located in Beirut. The most successful club in the history of the league is Al Riyadi Club Beirut.

History

The initial Lebanese basketball league was formed in as early as the 1950s; however, it was stopped during the Lebanese Civil War. In 1992, the league was reformed into its current fully professional format.

In 1998, Sporting Club (Al Riyadi) finished third in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, that same year Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship where Sagesse Club (Hekmeh) won, it was the first ever Arab basketball trophy for Lebanon.

In 1999, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship, Hekmeh were crowned champions again, in addition to being the first Lebanese and first Arab team to win the Asian cup.

The 1999 season was inaugurated by a huge event that included an exhibition game between Lebanese All-stars (represented by the top four teams Sagesse, Riyadi, Tadamon, and Rosaire) and Harlem Globetrotters. [2]

Overview

The league is the first division in Lebanese basketball. The team that finishes last each season is relegated to the Second Division, while the Second Division's top four teams compete in a play-off system. The team that wins is promoted for the next season.

Competition

There are 12 teams in the league. They play a round-robin format; each team plays all other teams once home and once away. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams enter the playoffs and play a best of 5 series in the quarterfinals. The winners of the quarterfinals advance to the best of 5 series in the semifinals. The two teams that advance play a best of seven series in the final, and the winner is the league champion.[ citation needed ]

Teams

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Locations of teams in the Lebanese Basketball League 2023–24

The following 10 teams play in the 2023–24 season.

TeamCityArenaCapacity
Al Riyadi Beirut Saeb Salam Arena2,500
Antranik Antelias AGBU Demirdjian Center2,000
Antonine Baabda Antonine Arena1,000
Beirut Club Beirut Chiyah Stadium2,500
Champville Maristes Dik El Mehdi Champville Club Center3,500
Mayrouba Jounieh Club Central1,000
Homenetmen Mezher Homentmen Mezher1,000
Hoops Club Dora Michel El Murr Complex2,000
NSA Jounieh Fouad Chehab Stadium1,200
Sagesse Ghazir Antoine Choueiri Stadium5,000

Champions

Wins by year

FLB League (standings since 1993)
SeasonChampionRunner-up
1992–1993 Al Riyadi Kahraba Zouk
1993–1994 Sagesse Kahraba Zouk
1994–1995 Al Riyadi (2) Kahraba Zouk
1995–1996
League Cancelled
1996–1997 Al Riyadi (3) Tadamon Zouk
1997–1998 Sagesse (2) Tadamon Zouk
1998–1999 Sagesse (3) Tadamon Zouk
1999–2000 Sagesse (4) Antranik Beirut
2000–2001 Sagesse (5) Al Riyadi
2001–2002 Sagesse (6) Champville
2002–2003 Sagesse (7) Al Riyadi
2003–2004 Sagesse (8) Champville
2004–2005 Al Riyadi (4) Sagesse
2005–2006 Al Riyadi (5) Sagesse
2006–2007 Al Riyadi (6) Blue Stars
2007–2008 Al Riyadi (7) Mouttahed
2008–2009 Al Riyadi (8) Mouttahed
2009–2010 Al Riyadi (9) Champville
2010–2011 Al Riyadi (10) Champville
2011–2012 Champville Anibal
2012–2013
League Cancelled
2013–2014 Al Riyadi (11) Sagesse
2014–2015 Al Riyadi (12) Byblos Club
2015–2016 Al Riyadi (13) Sagesse
2016–2017 Al Riyadi (14) Homenetmen
2017–2018 Homenetmen Al Riyadi
2018–2019 Al Riyadi (15) Beirut Club
2019–2020
League Cancelled
2020–2021 Al Riyadi (16) Champville
2021–2022 Beirut Club Al Riyadi
2022–2023 Al Riyadi (17) Dynamo
2023–2024 Al Riyadi (18) Sagesse

Wins by team

ClubTitlesRunners-upSeasons wonSeasons runner-up
Al Riyadi 1841992–93, 1994–1995, 1996–97, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–20242000–01, 2002–03, 2017–18, 2021–22
Sagesse 851993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–042004–05, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2023–2024
Champville 152011–122001–02, 2003–04, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2020–21
Homenetmen 112017–182016–17
Beirut 112021–222018–19
Kahraba Zouk 031992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95
Tadamon Zouk 031996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99
Mouttahed 022007–08, 2008–09
Antranik Beirut 011999–2000
Blue Stars 012006–07
Anibal 012011–12
Byblos 012014–15
Dynamo 012022–23

Rivalries

The Big Rivalry

Other Rivalries

Notable players

Notable coaches

References

  1. ↑ "Asia-Basket". www.asia-basket.com. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  2. ↑ "افتتاح بطولات لبنان لموسم 98/99 عروض لالهارلم مع اندية النخبة اللبنانية".
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