Basketball League Belgium Division I

BLB Division 1
Country  Belgium
Confederation FIBA Europe
Founded 1928 (1928)
Number of teams 10
Level on pyramid 1
Domestic cup(s) Belgian Cup
Supercup Belgian Supercup
International cup(s) Basketball Champions League
FIBA Europe Cup
Current champions Oostende (16th title)
Most championships Oostende (16 titles)
Website euromillionsbasketball.be
2016–17 Belgian Basketball League

The Basketball League Belgium (BLB) Division I, for sponsorship reasons, known as the EuroMillions Basketball League, is the highest tier level professional basketball league in Belgium for clubs. Through 2014, for sponsorship reasons, the league was previously known as the Ethias League, and from 2014–2016, it was known as the Scoore! League, for sponsorship reasons. The league is organized by the Basketball League Belgium.

The most successful team currently active in the league is Oostende, which holds the record for the most league titles won, with 16. The now defunct team, Racing Mechelen, is currently the team with the second most league titles won, with 15.

Sponsorship names

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:[2][3]

Current clubs

Club City Arena Capacity
Basic-Fit Brussels Brussels Complexe sportif de Neder-Over-Hembeek 1,000
Limburg United Hasselt Alverberg-sporthal 1,730
Belfius Mons-Hainaut Mons Mons.Arena 4,000
Proximus Spirou Charleroi Spiroudome 6,200
Kangoeroes Basket Willebroek Willebroek Sporthal de Schalk 1,000
Liège Basket Liège Country Hall Ethias Liège 5,000
Okapi Aalstar Aalst Okapi Forum 2,800
Port of Antwerp Giants Antwerp Lotto Arena 5,218
Stella Artois Leuven Bears Leuven Sportoase 3,400
Telenet Oostende Ostend Sleuyter Arena 5,000

Finals

Note: Sponsorship names are not included.
Season Champions Score Runners-up
2004–05
 Bree
3–1
 Spirou
2005–06
 Telindus Oostende
3–1
 Mons-Hainaut
2006–07
 Telindus 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
2011–12
 Telenet Oostende
3–2
 Spirou
2012–13
 Telenet Oostende
3–0
 Mons-Hainaut
2013–14
 Telenet Oostende
3–2
 Okapi Aalstar
2014–15
 Telenet Oostende
3–1
 Mons-Hainaut
2015–16
 Telenet Oostende
3–1
 Okapi Aalstar
2016–17
 Telenet Oostende
3–1
 Basic-Fit Brussels

Appearances by team

Note: Only included starting from the 2004–05 season.
Team Total W L
Oostende 8 8 0
Spirou 5 4 2
Mons-Hainaut 4 0 4
Bree 3 1 2
Okapi Aalstar 3 0 3
Liège 1 0 1
Brussels 1 0 1

Title holders

  • 1927–28 Brussels A.C.
  • 1928–29 Daring B.C.
  • 1929–30 Brussels A.C.
  • 1930–31 Brussels A.C.
  • 1931–32 Daring B.C.
  • 1932–33 Brussels A.C.
  • 1933–34 Daring B.C.
  • 1934–35 Amicale Sportive
  • 1935–36 Amicale Sportive
  • 1936–37 Fresh Air
  • 1937–38 Fresh Air
  • 1938–39 Royal IV
  • 1939–41 Not held due to WWII
  • 1941–42 Royal IV
  • 1942–45 Not held due to WWII
  • 1945–46 Semailles
  • 1946–47 Semailles
  • 1947–48 Semailles
  • 1948–49 Semailles
  • 1949–50 Semailles
  • 1950–51 Semailles
  • 1951–52 Royal IV

Performance by club

 Key
+
Denotes a team that has been dissolved.
Titles Team Seasons
17
Oostende 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
15
Racing Mechelen+ 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
10
Spirou 1996, 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 Air 1937, 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 Giants 2000
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. ↑ "Scooore! League makes way for Euromillions Basketball League". Scooore! League. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "A, B en C-licentie in 2009-2010 in Ethias League". Nieuwsblad.be. March 12, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Licentiereglement vzw BLB ter deelname aan competitie – Types van licentie" (PDF). BLB.
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