Lebanese Basketball League


The Lebanese Basketball League or 'FLB League' or 'Alfa Lebanese Basketball League' is the top-tier professional men's basketball league in Lebanon and one of the top leagues in Asia. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketball Federation.
Currently the Men's Division A league is made up of ten teams and is called the Alfa Lebanese Basketball League.

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 finished as Lebanese champions, allowing them to participate in the 1998 FIBA Asia Champions Cup. There, they finished 3rd place. On their return to Beirut, the Lebanese fans were on the streets to celebrate this achievement. That same year, Al Riyadi lost the Lebanese championship to their big rivals Sagesse Club.
In 1998, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship. Hekmeh won, the first ever basketball trophy for Lebanon. The next day, all the schools were closed as a national holiday.
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 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.

FLB League (Standings since 1993)

Wins by Team

TeamChampionshipsRunners-up
Al Riyadi 15 3
Sagesse 8 4
Champville1 4
Homenetmen1 1
Tadamon Zouk Mikael3
Tadamon Zouk3


Rivalries

The Big Rivalry
Other Rivalries

Single Season, Individual (May Not Be Fully Accurate)

Notable players

2019–20 teams: