Basketball League Belgium Division I
The Basketball League Belgium (BLB) Division I, for sponsorship reasons, known as the Scooore League, is the highest tier professional basketball league in Belgium. Through 2014, for sponsorship reasons, the league was previously known as the Ethias League. The league is organized by the Basketball League Belgium.
The most successful team currently active in the league is BC Oostende, which holds the record for the most league titles won, with 16. The now defunct team, R.C. Mechelen, is currently the team with the second most league titles won, with 15.
Sponsorship names
- 0000 – 2014: Ethias League
- 2014 – present: Scoore League
Ethias League logo
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:[1][2]
- 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.
Teams
Club |
City |
Arena |
Capacity |
Basic-Fit Brussels |
Brussels |
Piscine de Neder-Over-Hembeek |
7003120000000000000♠1,200 |
Limburg United |
Hasselt |
Alverberg-sporthal |
7003173000000000000♠1,730 |
Belfius Mons-Hainaut |
Mons |
Mons Arena |
7003400000000000000♠4,000 |
Belgacom Spirou |
Charleroi |
Spiroudome |
7003620000000000000♠6,200 |
Kangoeroes Basket Willebroek |
Willebroek |
Sporthal de Schalk |
7003100000000000000♠1,000 |
Liège Basket |
Liège |
Country Hall Ethias |
7003500000000000000♠5,000 |
Okapi Aalstar |
Aalst |
Okapi Forum |
7003280000000000000♠2,800 |
Port of Antwerp Giants |
Antwerp |
Lotto Arena |
7003521800000000000♠5,218 |
Stella Artois Leuven Bears |
Leuven |
Sportoase |
7003340000000000000♠3,400 |
Telenet BC Oostende |
Ostend |
Sleuyter Arena |
7003500000000000000♠5,000 |
VOO Wolves Verviers-Pepinster |
Verviers |
Halle du Paire |
7003400000000000000♠4,000 |
Finals
- Note: Sponsorship names are not included.
Appearances by team
- Note: Only included starting from the 2004–05 season.
League champions
- 1928 Brussels A.C.
- 1929 Daring B.C.
- 1930 Brussels A.C.
- 1931 Brussels A.C.
- 1932 Daring B.C.
- 1933 Brussels A.C.
- 1934 Daring B.C.
- 1935 Amicale Sportive
- 1936 Amicale Sportive
- 1937 Fresh Air
- 1938 Fresh Air
- 1939 Royal IV B.C.
- 1940-41 Not contested
- 1942 Royal IV B.C.
- 1943-45 Not contested
- 1946 Semailles B.C.
- 1947 Semailles B.C.
- 1948 Semailles B.C.
- 1949 Semailles B.C.
- 1950 Semailles B.C.
- 1951 Semailles B.C.
- 1952 Royal IV B.C.
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Performance by club
Key
+ | Denotes a team that has been dissolved. |
Titles |
Team |
Seasons |
16 | Oostende | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
15 | R.C. Mechelen+ | 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
10 | Spirou Charleroi | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
8 | Racing Ford 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 | Bus Fruit Lier+ | 1971, 1972 |
2 | Amicale Sportive+ | 1935, 1936 |
1 | Bree B.B.C.+ | 2005 |
1 | Port of 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
External links
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- Category
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