1979–80 National Basketball League season

The 1979–80 Rotary Watches National Basketball League season was the eighth season of the National Basketball League.[1]

1979–80 National Basketball League season
LeagueNational Basketball League
SportBasketball
Number of teams10
Roll of Honour
National League championsCrystal Palace Chevrons
  National League runners-upDoncaster Ziebart Panthers
Play-offs championsCrystal Palace Chevrons
  Play-offs runners-upCoventry Team Fiat
National Cup championsCrystal Palace Chevrons
  National Cup runners-upDoncaster Ziebart Panthers

The league was sponsored by Rotary Watches for the second consecutive year and Crystal Palace won an unprecedented treble of League, Playoffs and National Cup. Crystal Palace were helped by Alton Byrd, who would become the best known name in British basketball and pick up the season MVP award.[2]

Team changes

Malcolm Chamberlain, the owner of the London Metros uprooted the team, relocating from London to Kingston upon Thames and the Tolworth Recreation Centre, rebranding as Kingston. With their added sponsorship they would be known as Kelly Girls International Kingston. Guildford Pirates, the NBL Division 2 champions, joined the league and following a sponsorship deal would be Team Talbot, Guildford. Runners-up Hemel Hempstead also joined the league and would be known as Hemel Hempstead Ovaltine playing at Bletchley Leisure Centre. The Blackpool Pacemakers completed the newcomers to the league. The Milton Keynes All-Stars, Loughborough All-Stars, Exeter St Lukes TSB and Bracknell Bullets all dropped out.

National League standings

Division One

Pos Team P W L F A Pts
1Crystal Palace Chevrons181801936149836
2Doncaster Ziebart Panthers181441751167328
3Coventry Team Fiat181441788164428
4Hemel Hempstead Ovaltine181261686163424
5Kelly Girls International Kingston181081836170220
6Sunderland Sunblest18991672168318
7Stockport Belgrade18513176318749
8Manchester ATS Giants18315153317546
9Blackpool Pacemakers18315161218396
10Team Talbot, Guildford Pirates18216159218734

Division Two

Pos Team P W L F A Pts
1Nottingham141131269115522
2Camden & Hampstead141131449132722
3Leeds Larsen Lions141131346121822
4Brighton14861332129016
5Exeter St Lukes14771311128714
6Team Hemeling Birmingham14311133414676
7Plymouth Panasonic14311126113966
8Brunel Ducks14212125314354

Rotary Watches playoffs

Semi-finals

venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
March 14, Wembley ArenaDoncaster Ziebart PanthersCoventry Team Fiat84-100
March 14, Wembley ArenaCrystal Palace ChevronsHemel Hempstead Ovaltine98-75

Third Place

venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
March 15, Wembley ArenaDoncaster Ziebart PanthersHemel Hempstead Ovaltine84-75

Final

15 March
Crystal Palace Chevrons 9385 Coventry Team Fiat
Pts: Mark Saiers 26 Pts: Greg White (MVP) 38

[3]

Butlins National Cup Final

25 January 1980
Crystal Palace Chevrons 9767 Doncaster Ziebart Panthers
Pts: Peter Jeremich 21, Mark Saiers 17
Sheffield

References

  1. Matthews & Morrison, Peter & Ian (1987). The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records & Results. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-492-5.
  2. "Men's Senior League Winners". Basketball England.
  3. "Nicholas Harling. "Basketball." Times [London, England] 17 Mar. 1980". The Times Digital Archive.

See also

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