Lebanese Basketball League

Lebanese Basketball League

Current season, competition or edition:
Sport	Basketball
Founded	1992 (new format)
CEO	Akram Halabi
No. of teams	10
Country	Lebanon
Continent	FIBA Asia (Asia)
Most recent champion(s)	Al Riyadi
Most titles	Al Riyadi
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	League 1
Domestic cup(s)
International cup(s)	FIBA Asia Champions Cup Arab Club Basketball Championship

The Lebanese Basketball League, or XXL Energy Lebanese Basketball League for sponsorship reasons, is 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]

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 a fully professional format.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, Sporting Club (Al Riyadi) finished as Lebanese champions, allowing them to participate in the 1998 FIBA Asia Champions Cup . There, they finished 3rd place. That same year, Al Riyadi lost the Lebanese championship to their big rivals Sagesse Club (Hekmeh).^{[citation needed]}

In 1998, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship. Hekmeh won, the first ever basketball trophy for Lebanon.^{[citation needed]}

In 1999, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship again. Hekmeh repeated as champions.^{[citation needed]}

Al Riyadi has its greatest success in the Arab Club Championship during the 2000s. They won the title in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010. In 2009, they defeated their fellow Lebanese team Hekmeh in the final, the first time two Lebanese teams met in the final. The 2009 tournament was held in Beirut.^{[citation needed]}

Overview[]

The league is known 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Competition[]

There are 10 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 seven 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]}

FLB League (Standings since 1993)[]

Season	Champion	Runner-up
	Al Riyadi	Kahraba Zouk
	Sagesse	Kahraba Zouk
	Al Riyadi	Kahraba Zouk
	League Cancelled
	Al Riyadi	Tadamon Zouk
	Sagesse	Tadamon Zouk
	Sagesse	Tadamon Zouk
	Sagesse	Antranik Beirut
	Sagesse	Champville
	Sagesse	Champville
	Sagesse	Al Riyadi
	Sagesse	Al Riyadi
	Al Riyadi	Sagesse
	Al Riyadi	Sagesse
	Al Riyadi	Blue Stars
	Al Riyadi	Mouttahed
	Al Riyadi	Mouttahed
	Al Riyadi	Champville
2010–2011	Al Riyadi	Champville
2011–2012	Champville	Anibal
2012–2013	League Cancelled
2013–2014	Al Riyadi	Sagesse
2014–2015	Al Riyadi	Byblos Club
	Al Riyadi	Sagesse
	Al Riyadi	Homenetmen
	Homenetmen	Al Riyadi
	Al Riyadi
	League Cancelled

Wins by Team[]

Club	Titles	Runners-up	Seasons won	Seasons runner-up
Al Riyadi	15	3	1992–93, 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	2002–03, 2003–04, 2017–18
Sagesse	8	4	1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04	2004–05, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2015–16
Champville	1	4	2011–12	2000–01, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2010–11
Homenetmen	1	1	2017–18	2016–17
Kahraba Zouk	0	3		1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95
Tadamon Zouk	0	3		1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99
Mouttahed	0	2		2007–08, 2008–09
Antranik Beirut	0	1		1999–2000
Blue Stars	0	1		2006–07
Anibal	0	1		2011–12
Byblos Club	0	1		2014–15
	0	1		2018–19

Rivalries[]

The Big Rivalry

• Al Riyadi vs Sagesse Club. It is the Biggest Rivalry in the league, a classical match up since 1994 between the two most successful teams in Lebanon and two of the most successful clubs in the Arab world and Asia, it is also known as the Derby of Beirut.^{[citation needed]}

Other Rivalries

• Al Riyadi vs Champville
• Homenetmen Beirut vs Al Riyadi
• Champville vs Sagesse Club
• Tadamon Zouk vs Sagesse Club^{[citation needed]}

Notable players[]

Notable coaches[]

Women's league[]

2019–20 teams:

• Antranik SC
• Al Riyadi Club Beirut
• Homenetmen Antelias
• Hoops Club

See also[]

• Lebanon futsal league

References[]

External links[]

• Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB) website
• Lebanese Basketball League Facebook
• Lebanese Basketball League Twitter
• Lebanese Basketball League Twitter