Lebanese Basketball League

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]

Lebanese Basketball League
Organising bodyLebanese Basketball Federation (LFB)
Founded1992
First season1992–93
Country Lebanon
ConfederationFIBA Asia
Number of teams11
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLeague 1
Domestic cup(s)Lebanese Cup
International cup(s)FIBA Asia Champions Cup
Arab Club Basketball Championship
Current championsAl Riyadi (16th title)
(2020–21)
Most championshipsAl Riyadi (16 titles)
CEOAkram Halabi
Websitelebanon.basketball
2021–22 Lebanese Basketball League season

Currently, the league consists of 11 teams, of which six are located in Beirut. The most successful club in the history of the league is Al Riyadi who have won a record 16 championships.

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.

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).

In 1998, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship. Hekmeh won, the first ever basketball trophy for Lebanon.

In 1999, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship again. Hekmeh repeated as champions.

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.

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.

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 11 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.

Teams
Locations of teams in the Lebanese Basketball League 2021–22

The following 11 teams play in the 2021–22 season.

Team City Arena Capacity
Al Riyadi Beirut Saeb Salam Arena 2,000
Anibal Zahle Antelias Anibal Court 1,000
Antranik Antelias AGBU Demirdjian Center
Atlas Ferzol
Byblos Club Byblos Mr. Carlos Slim & Michel Suleiman Stadium
Beirut Club Beirut
Champville Dik El Mehdi Champville Club 7,086
Dynamo Beirut (Saifi Village) Nohad Nawfal Stadium
Homenetmen Beirut (Mzher) Adom & Sella Tenjukian Stadium 1,000
Hoops Club Beirut (Jdeideh) Michel Murr Complex
Sagesse Beirut (Achrafieh) Antoine Choueiri Stadium 5,000

FLB League (Standings since 1993)
SeasonChampionRunner-up
1992–1993Al RiyadiKahraba Zouk
1993–1994SagesseKahraba Zouk
1994–1995Al RiyadiKahraba Zouk
1995–1996
League Cancelled
1996–1997Al RiyadiTadamon Zouk
1997–1998SagesseTadamon Zouk
1998–1999SagesseTadamon Zouk
1999–2000SagesseAntranik Beirut
2000–2001SagesseChampville
2001–2002SagesseChampville
2002–2003SagesseAl Riyadi
2003–2004SagesseAl Riyadi
2004–2005Al RiyadiSagesse
2005–2006Al RiyadiSagesse
2006–2007Al RiyadiBlue Stars
2007–2008 Al RiyadiMouttahed
2008–2009Al RiyadiMouttahed
2009–2010Al RiyadiChampville
2010–2011Al RiyadiChampville
2011–2012ChampvilleAnibal
2012–2013
League Cancelled
2013–2014Al RiyadiSagesse
2014–2015Al RiyadiByblos Club
2015–2016Al RiyadiSagesse
2016–2017Al RiyadiHomenetmen
2017–2018HomenetmenAl Riyadi
2018–2019Al RiyadiBeirut Club
2019–2020
League Cancelled
2020–2021Al RiyadiChampville

Wins by Team
Club Titles Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-up
Al Riyadi
16
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, 2020–21 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
5
 2011–12 2000–01, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2020–21
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
Beirut Club
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.

Other Rivalries

Notable players

Notable coaches

Women's league

2019–20 teams:

See also

References
  1. "Asia-Basket". www.asia-basket.com. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
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