Lebanese Basketball League

Pepsi Lebanese Basketball Championship (FLB)
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2015–16 FLB season
Sport Basketball
Founded 1993 (New Format)
CEO Walid Nassar
Claim to fame "The pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in the West Asia"
No. of teams 10
Country  Lebanon
Continent FIBA Asia (Asia)
Most recent
champion(s)
Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (14 titles)
Most titles Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (14 titles)
TV partner(s) LBCI
Official website www.flbb.com

The Lebanese Basketball League or FLB League is the top-tier professional men's basketball league in Lebanon and one of the top leagues in Asia. It is organised annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB).

As per January 2, 2016, The Men Division A made up of 9 teams is named PEPSI FLB League due to sponsorship reasons.

History

The initial Lebanese basketball league was formed in as early as the 1950s and was stopped during the civil war. After the war ended, in 1994 the league was totally reformed in a new fully professional format that is being since the foundation of the league today.

A short glimps to the start of the golden days and rise to fame: in 1997 Sporting Club (Al Riyadi) finished as Lebanese champions, the next season they went to participate in the Asian championship they reached the 3rd place and on their return to Beirut the Lebanese fans were on the streets to celebrate this achievement. The same year in 1998 Riyadi lost the Lebanese championship to their big rivals Sagesse Club (Hekmeh). Lebanon hosted a big tournament, the Arab club Championship Which Sagesse won to be the 1st ever trophy for Lebanon. Beirut did not sleep that night all over the country people were on the roads partying till dawn, the next day all the schools were closed as a national holiday. In 1999 Beirut hosted the Asian Championship for clubs, Sagesse managed to win the first ever Asian title for any Lebanese or Arab team, celebrations were all over the country. This same year Sagesse managed to retain their title in the Arab club Championship which was held for the second consecutive time in Beirut. In May 2000, Lebanon once more hosted the Asian Championship for clubs and again Sagesse Club won it and created history for being the only team to win the championship two consecutive times.

Overview

The league itself is most known in Asia due to the success of the Lebanese teams in the Asian competitions such as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, Arab Club Championship, and West Asian Basketball League. Many undrafted and free agent players from Europe and the NBA play in the Lebanese league.

The league is the first division in Lebanese basketball, the team that finishes last in a season is relegated to the Division 2, while the Second Division's top 4 teams compete in a play-off system right after the end of the regular season, with the team that reaches the finals series being promoted to the Lebanese League for the following season.

The Competition

There are 10 teams in the league and they play against each other twice in the league, once at their home and the other away. At the end of those two rounds, the final 8 teams enter to the playoffs they play three games series. The winners of the Quarterfinals advance to the best of four game series Semifinals. The two teams that advance play best of four games in the Final to determine the league champion. The season starts in December and ends in May

FLB League (Standings since 1993)

SeasonChampionRunner-up
1992–1993 Al Riyadi Kahraba Zouk Mikael
1993–1994 Sagesse Al Riyadi
1994–1995 Al Riyadi Kahraba Zouk Mikael
1995–1996 Al Riyadi Tadamon Zouk
1996–1997 Al Riyadi Tadamon Zouk
1997–1998 Sagesse Tadamon Zouk
1998–1999 Sagesse Tadamon Zouk
1999–2000 Sagesse Antranik Antelias
2000–2001 Sagesse Champville
2001–2002 Sagesse Champville
2002–2003 Sagesse Al Riyadi
2003–2004 Sagesse Al Riyadi
2004–2005 Al Riyadi Sagesse
2005–2006 Al Riyadi Sagesse
2006–2007 Al Riyadi Blue Stars
2007–2008 Al Riyadi Mouttahed
2008-2009 Al Riyadi Mouttahed
2009-2010 Al Riyadi Champville
2010-2011Al Riyadi Champville
2011-2012Champville Anibal
2012-2013 League Cancelled
2013-2014Al Riyadi Sagesse
2014-2015Al Riyadi UBA
2015-2016Al Riyadi Sagesse

Rivalries

Rivalries:

Other rivalries

Lebanese Basketball League Current Clubs

Single Season, Individual (May Not Be Fully Accurate)

RecordNum.PlayerTeamSeason
Points1356Fadi El KhatibChampville SC2009–10
Rebounds521Loren WoodsSporting Al Riyadi Beirut2010–11
Assists211Rodrigue AklHekmeh BC2013–14
3-pointers114Terrell StoglinHekmeh BC2015–16
Blocks65Julian KhazzouhHekmeh BC2013–14
Steals232Ali MahmoudSporting Al Riyadi Beirut2004–05

Division A Women

Notable players

Notable coaches

Notable women players

Notable coaches of women teams

See also

Lebanon futsal league

References

    External links

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