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Latvijas Basketbola līga

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Latvian Basketball League
Latvijas Basketbola līga (LBL)
Most recent season or competition:
2024 LBL Play-offs
SportBasketball
Founded1992 (de facto 1924)
No. of teams6
CountryLatvia
ContinentFIBA Europe
Most recent
champion(s)		VEF Riga (11th title)
Most titlesVEF Riga
(11)
TV partner(s)Latvia:
Level on pyramid1st tier
Domestic cup(s)Latvian Basketball Cup
Related
competitions		Nacionālā basketbola līga (LBL 2)
Tournament formatPlay-off
Official websitebasket.lv

The Latvian Basketball League (LBL; Latvian: Latvijas Basketbola līga) also known as the Pafbet LBL for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the top-level national basketball championship in Latvia composed of 6 teams. Since 2018/19, only the playoff matches are played, as the top Latvian clubs play the regular season in the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League. The LBL is governed by the Latvian Basketball Association, the national governing body of basketball in Latvia.

Its 6 teams are located in 5 cities; two in Riga, and one in Ventspils, Liepāja, Valmiera, and Ogre. The LBL season usually ran from September to April, with the playoffs in April–May. The league was founded in 1992, and its first season was played in the same year.

History

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Before 1992

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After American YMCA volunteers introduced the sport in Riga around 1920, interest in the sport grew, and in 1923 the YMCA organized the first ever basketball tournament in Latvia, with 14 teams registering. In 1924, the newly-founded Latvian Basketball Association announced the first Latvian Basketball Championship in the winter of 1924 (Latvian: Latvijas meistarsacīkstes basketbolā) with 6 teams participating.[2][3] It was won by the Latvian Sports Society (Latvijas Sporta biedrība) team, who defeated the Riga YMCA team (Rīgas JKS) in the final game with a score of 25:15.[4] The first official national women's tournament followed in 1932.[5]

Early years

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The first LBL season was played in 1992, with LBL2 (LBL 2. divīzija) as its second division and LBL3 as the third. From 1992 to 1999 all championships were won by BK Brocēni, however, from 2000 to 2006 BK Ventspils were the champions. In 2007, ASK Rīga stopped BK Ventspils' winning streak. BK Ventspils won again in 2009, beating Barons/LMT in a thriller 4–3.

Later history

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Barons would return to the final the following year, this time against VEF Rīga, and win by the same 4–3 margin. The 2011 final again went to 7 games, with VEF Rīga defeating Ventspils. Between 2011 and 2018, the title changed hands frequently, with BK Valmiera Ordo claiming the title in 2016.

Since the introduction of the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League in the 2018/2019 season, the regular LBL championship was merged into the LEBL. The six top Latvian teams then qualify for the LBL playoffs after the end of the LEBL regular season. VEF Rīga has held the title ever since.

For the 2020/2021 season, the 2nd tier Latvian league - LBL2 - was reformed into the Ramirent Nacionālā basketbola līga [lv] (NBL, National Basketball League) and LBL3 became the Reģionālā basketbola līga (Regional Basketball League).

Sponsorships

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From 2012 to 2015, the league was known as Aldaris Latvijas Basketbola līga due to the AS Aldaris brewery becoming the general sponsor of the Latvian Basketball Association.[6] In 2016, they were succeeded by betting brand OlyBet and in 2019 by Pafbet.

Teams

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class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2023–24 Latvian Basketball League
Team Home city Arena
Liepāja Liepāja Liepāja Olympic Center
Latvijas Universitāte Rīga Olympic Sports Center
Ogre Ogre Ogre Secondary School No.1
Valmiera Glass/VIA Valmiera Vidzeme Olympic Center
VEF Rīga Rīga Olympic Sports Center
Ventspils Ventspils Ventspils Olympic Center
Rīgas Zeļļi Rīga Daugava Sports Hall

Title holders

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Latvian champions

  • 1924 LSB Rīga
  • 1925 JKS Rīga
  • 1926 Rīgas FK
  • 1927 Rīgas FK
  • 1928 LSB Rīga
  • 1929 JKS Rīga
  • 1930 Universitātes Sports
  • 1931 Latvju Jaunatne
  • 1932 JKS Rīga
  • 1933 Latvijas Valsts Karoga Apvienība
  • 1934 Universitātes Sports
  • 1935 Universitātes Sports
  • 1936 Universitātes Sports
  • 1937 Universitātes Sports
  • 1938 Starts Rīga
  • 1939 ASK Rīga
  • 1940 ASK Rīga
  • 1941 RDKA Rīga
  • 1943 Starts Rīga
  • 1944 Starts Rīga

Latvian SSR champions

Latvian champions

Performance by club

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Club Winners Runners-up Winning Years
VEF Rīga
11
4
 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Ventspils
10
12
 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2018
Brocēni
8
2
 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Barons
2
3
 2008, 2010
ASK Riga
1
1
 2007
Valmiera
1
0
 2016
Bonus
0
4
Skonto
0
3
Ogre
0
1
Metropole
0
1
Liepāja
0
1
Rīgas Zeļļi
0
1

The finals

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Year Winner Runner-up Score Finals MVP
1992 Brocēni Parair Bonus
2–0
1993 Brocēni Bonus
3–0
1994 SWH Brocēni Bonus
3–0
1995 SWH Brocēni Bonus
4–3
1996 ASK Brocēni Metropole
4–2
1997 ASK Brocēni LMT Liepājas Baltika
4–0
1998 ASK Brocēni LMT Ventspils
4–1
 Ainārs Bagatskis
1999 Brocēni LMT Ventspils
4–2
 Edgars Šneps
2000 Ventspils Brocēni LMT
4–3
 Aigars Vītols
2001 Ventspils BK LMT
4–1
2002 Ventspils Skonto
4–0
 Kristaps Purnis
2003 Ventspils Skonto
4–1
 Mire Chatman
2004 Ventspils Skonto
4–0
 Kestutis Sestokas
2005 Ventspils Barons
4–0
 Justin Love
2006 Ventspils Barons
4–0
 Marijonas Petravičius
2007 ASK Riga Ventspils
4–2
 Sandis Valters
2008 Barons LMT ASK Riga
4–1
 Armands Šķēle
2009 Ventspils Barons LMT
4–3
 Mareks Jurevičus
2010 Barons LMT VEF Rīga
4–3
 Oritseweyinmi Efejuku
Year Winner Runner-up Score Finals MVP
2011 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–3
 Sandis Valters
2012 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–1
 Kristaps Janičenoks
2013 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–1
 Earl Rowland
2014 Ventspils VEF Rīga
4–1
 Jānis Timma
2015 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–2
 Mareks Mejeris
2016 Valmiera Ordo VEF Rīga
4–3
 Artūrs Bērziņš
2017 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–0
 Mareks Mejeris
2018 Ventspils VEF Rīga
4–2
 Aigars Šķēle
2019 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–1
 Jabril Durham
2020 VEF Rīga Ogre
Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19
2021 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–0
 Kyle Allman Jr.
2022 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–1
 Kristers Zoriks
2023 VEF Rīga Ventspils
4–1
 Nysier Brooks
2024 VEF Rīga Rīgas Zeļļi
4–1
 Arnaldo Toro

All–time national champions

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Total number of national champions won by Latvian clubs. Table includes titles won during the Latvian Championships (1924–1944) and (1992–present) and the USSR Premier Basketball League (1945–1992).

Club Trophies Years won
VEF Rīga
11
 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Ventspils
10
 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2018
Brocēni
8
 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Rīgas ASK
6
 1939, 1940, 1941, 1955, 1957, 1958
Universitātes Sports
5
 1930, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937
JKS Rīga
3
 1925, 1929, 1932
Starts Rīga
3
 1938, 1943, 1944
Rīgas FK
2
 1926, 1927
LSB Rīga
2
 1924, 1928
Barons
2
 2008, 2010
Latvju Jaunatne
1
 1931
Latvijas Valsts Karoga Apvienība
1
 1933
ASK Riga
1
 2007
Valmiera
1
 2016

Titles by team (only Latvian 1924–2023)

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Team Titles Champion years
Rīgas ASK
16
 1939, 1940, 1941, 1953, 1957, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1988
VEF Rīga
11
 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Ventspils
10
 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2018
Rīgas VEF
9
 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1971, 1974
Brocēni
8
 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Universitātes Sports
5
 1930, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937
Daugava Rīga
4
 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948
LVU Rīga
4
 1950, 1952, 1989, 1990
JKS Rīga
3
 1925, 1929, 1932
Starts Rīga
3
 1938, 1943, 1944
RPI Rīga
3
 1979, 1982, 1984
Rīgas FK
2
 1926, 1927
LSB Rīga
2
 1924, 1928
Liepājas Sarkanais Metalurgs
2
 1963, 1968
Lokomotīve Rīga
2
 1964, 1970
BK Ķekava
2
 1977, 1981
Jelgava SCO
2
 1985, 1986
9. Auda
2
 1972, 1991
Barons
2
 2008, 2010
Latvju Jaunatne
1
 1931
Latvijas Valsts Karoga Apvienība
1
 1933
Dinamo Rīga
1
 1951
BK Ādaži
1
 1980
LVFKI Rīga
1
 1983
ASK Riga
1
 2007
Valmiera
1
 2016

References

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  1. ^ "Pafbet LBL".
  2. ^ "Federation Focus: Latvia | FIBA Europe".
  3. ^ "Basketbols - Vēsture | Latvijas Universitāte". University of Latvia (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  4. ^ Caballero.lv; basketlv (2023-08-12). "Latvijas basketbola 100 gadi: fakti un personības (1923 - 2023)". LatvijaV2 (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  5. ^ "basketbols Latvijā". Latvian National Encyclopedia (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  6. ^ ""Aldaris" kļuvis par LBL ģenerālsponsoru" [Aldaris becomes LBL general sponsor]. Apollo (in Latvian). 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
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