Pro Basketball League

The Pro Basketball League (PBL),[1] was the highest tier level professional basketball league in Belgium for clubs. In 2021, the league was succeeded by the Belgian-Dutch BNXT League.[2]

Pro Basketball League
FormerlySee sponsorship names
Founded1928
Folded2021
Replaced byBNXT League
CountryBelgium
FederationBLB
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Belgian Cup
SupercupBelgian Supercup
International cup(s)Champions League
Europe Cup
Last championsFilou Oostende (23rd title)
(2021–22)
Most championshipsFilou Oostende (23 titles)
PresidentMaarten Bostyn
Websiteeuromillionsbasketball.be

The league is organized by the Basketball League Belgium. The current president of the league is Maarten Bostyn.[3]

The most successful team in the league is Oostende, which holds the record for the most league titles won, with 22, and the now defunct team of Racing Mechelen is second, with 15.

History

On 15 March 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the season was prematurely cancelled. Based on the standings in the regular season, Filou Oostende was crowned national champions.[4]

Sponsorship names

  • Until 2014: Ethias League
  • 2014–2016: Scooore! League
  • 2016–2021 EuroMillions Basketball League[5]

Format and rules

The BLB is played by the international FIBA rules. Since 2014–15 the BLB season has a new format. In the regular season, all teams play each other first home and away. After that first round the league is divided in two groups based on standings; in the first group teams ranked 1–6 play and in the second 7–11. After the split each team plays all others in its group once home and once away. After that the Playoffs are played by eight teams. The quarterfinals consist of best-of-three series and the semi- and finals are played in a best-of-five format.

Licensing

Teams that play in the BLB all have to get a license to play in the league. There are three types of licenses:[6][7]

  • A-license: for teams who have more than a 1 million budget. A-licensed team can qualify for European competitions.
  • B-license: teams with at least a €750,000 budget. B-licensed teams can't qualify for European play.
  • C-licence: given to teams that are on the rise, with a budget of at least €400,000. C-licenses do not allow teams to qualify for European play and have to get replaced by B-licenses after two years.

Current clubs

Club City Arena Capacity
Antwerp Giants Antwerp Lotto Arena 5,218
Belfius Mons-Hainaut Mons Mons Arena 4,000
Filou Oostende Ostend Sleuyter Arena 5,000
Kangoeroes Mechelen Mechelen De Winketaai 1,000
Leuven Bears Leuven Sportoase 3,400
Limburg United Hasselt Alverberg-sporthal 1,730
Okapi Aalst Aalst Okapi Forum 2,800
Phoenix Brussels Brussels Complexe sportif de Neder-Over-Hembeek 1,200
Spirou Charleroi Spiroudome 6,200
VOO Liège Liège Country Hall Ethias Liège 5,000

Finals

Since 2005, play-offs are played to decide which team is crowned the champion of each season. The finals series are played in a best-of-five format, with the team which had the higher seed in the regular season having home court advantage.

Season Champions Score Runners-up
2004–05
Bree
3–1
Spirou
2005–06
Oostende
3–1
Mons-Hainaut
2006–07
Oostende
3–2
Bree
2007–08
Spirou
3–0
Bree
2008–09
Spirou
3–0
Mons-Hainaut
2009–10
Spirou
3–1
Liège Basket
2010–11
Spirou
3–0
Okapi Aalstar
Oostende
3–2
Spirou
Oostende
3–0
Mons-Hainaut
Oostende
3–2
Okapi Aalstar
Oostende
3–1
Mons-Hainaut
Oostende
3–1
Okapi Aalstar
Oostende
3–1
Brussels
Oostende
3–0
Antwerp Giants
Oostende
3–1
Antwerp Giants
Oostende Cancelled Mons-Hainaut
Oostende
3–1
Mons-Hainaut
Oostende
3–1
Kangoeroes Mechelen

Performances by club (2005–present)

Team Champions Runners-up Years champions Years runners-up
Oostende
11
2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
Spirou422008, 2009, 2010, 20112005, 2012
Bree1220052007, 2008
Mons-Hainaut62006, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2020, 2021
Okapi Aalstar32011, 2014, 2016
Antwerp Giants22018, 2019
Liège12010
Brussels12017
Kangoeroes Mechelen12022

Title holders

Performance by club

Key
+
Denotes a team that has been dissolved.
Titles Team Seasons
23
Oostende1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
15
Racing Mechelen+1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
10
Spirou1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
8
Antwerpse+1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1973
7
Royal IV+1939, 1942, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958
6
Semailles+1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951
4
Fresh Air1937, 1938, 1978, 1979
4
Brussels A.C.+1928, 1930, 1931, 1933
3
Daring B.C.+1929, 1932, 1934
3
Standard Liège+1968, 1970, 1977
2
Lier+1971, 1972
2
Amicale Sportive+1935, 1936
1
Bree+2005
1
Antwerp Giants2000
1
Hellas Gent+1955

Individual awards

Not all awards are official ones handed out by the league itself, but all are regarded and respected as BLB awards. As example the Belgian Player of the Year award is handed out by the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, but the league itself reports the winner on its website.

References

  1. "Statuten Pro Basketball League" (PDF) (in Dutch). Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  2. "The Pro Basketball League and Dutch Basketball League about to launch BeNeLeague as of the 2021–2022 season". Pro Basketball League. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. "Arthur Goethals nieuwe voorzitter Pro Basketball League". Het Nieuwsblad.
  4. "Basketbalcompetitie bij mannen definitief stopgezet: Oostende is weer kampioen". Sporza.be. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  5. "Scooore! League makes way for Euromillions Basketball League". Scooore! League. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  6. "A, B en C-licentie in 2009-2010 in Ethias League". Nieuwsblad.be. 12 March 2009.
  7. "Licentiereglement vzw BLB ter deelname aan competitie – Types van licentie" (PDF). BLB. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.

Sources

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