Pro Basketball League

For the current top level Belgian league, see BNXT League.

Basketball league

Pro Basketball League

Formerly| See sponsorship names
Founded| 1928
Folded| 2021
Replaced by| BNXT League
Country| Belgium
Federation| BLB
Confederation| FIBA Europe
Number of teams| 10
Level on pyramid| 1
Domestic cup(s)| Belgian Cup
Supercup| Belgian Supercup
International cup(s)| Champions League
Europe Cup
Last champions| Filou Oostende (26th title)
(2024–25)
Most championships| Filou Oostende (26 titles)
All-time top scorer| Willy Steveniers (11,870)
President| Maarten Bostyn
Website| euromillionsbasketball.be

The Pro Basketball League (PBL),[1] was the highest tier level professional basketball league in Belgium for clubs. In 2021, the league was succeeded by the Belgian-Dutch BNXT League.[2]

The league is organized by the Basketball League Belgium. The current president of the league is Maarten Bostyn.[3]

The most successful team in the league is Oostende, which holds the record for the most league titles won, with 26, and the now defunct team of Racing Mechelen is second, with 15.

## History

[edit]

On 15 March 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the season was prematurely cancelled. Based on the standings in the regular season, Filou Oostende was crowned national champions.[4]

## Sponsorship names

[edit]

* Until 2014: Ethias League
* 2014–2016: Scooore! League
* 2016–2021 EuroMillions Basketball League[5]

* Ethias League logo

* Scooore! League logo (2014–2016)

## Format and rules

[edit]

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

[edit]

Teams that play in the BLB all have to get a license to play in the league. There are three types of licenses:[6][7]

* 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.

## Current clubs

[edit]

Spirou

Liège

Leuven

Oostende

Giants

Okapi

Mechelen

Mons

Limburg

Brussels

class=notpageimage|

Location of the 2020–21 Pro Basketball League teams

Club  | City  | Arena  | Capacity

|
|
|

Antwerp Giants | Antwerp | Lotto Arena | 5,218
Belfius Mons-Hainaut | Mons | Mons Arena | 4,000
Filou Oostende | Ostend | Sleuyter Arena | 5,000
Kangoeroes Mechelen | Mechelen | De Winketaai  | 1,000
Leuven Bears | Leuven | Sportoase  | 3,400
Limburg United | Hasselt | Alverberg-sporthal  | 1,730
Okapi Aalst | Aalst | Okapi Forum  | 2,800
Phoenix Brussels | Brussels | Complexe sportif de Neder-Over-Hembeek  | 1,200
Spirou | Charleroi | Spiroudome | 6,200
VOO Liège | Liège | Country Hall Ethias Liège | 5,000

## Finals

[edit]

Since 2005, play-offs are played to decide which team is crowned the champion of each season. The finals series are played in a best-of-five format, with the team which had the higher seed in the regular season having home court advantage.

Season  | Champions  | Score  | Runners-up

|
|
|

2004–05

| Bree |

3–1

| Spirou

2005–06

| Oostende |

3–1

| Mons-Hainaut

2006–07

| 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

| Oostende |

3–2

| Spirou

2012–13

| Oostende |

3–0

| Mons-Hainaut

2013–14

| Oostende |

3–2

| Okapi Aalstar

2014–15

| Oostende |

3–1

| Mons-Hainaut

2015–16

| Oostende |

3–1

| Okapi Aalstar

2016–17

| Oostende |

3–1

| Brussels

2017–18

| Oostende |

3–0

| Antwerp Giants

2018–19

| Oostende |

3–1

| Antwerp Giants

2019–20

| Oostende | Cancelled  | Mons-Hainaut

2020–21

| Oostende |

3–1

| Mons-Hainaut

2021–22

| Oostende |

3–1

| Kangoeroes Mechelen

2022–23

| Oostende |

3–1

| Antwerp Giants

2023–24

| Oostende |

3–1

| Antwerp Giants

2024–25

| Oostende |

3–1

| Kangoeroes Mechelen

### Performances by club (2005–present)

[edit]

Team  | Champions  | Runners-up  | Years champions  | Years runners-up

|
|
|
|

Oostende |

| 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | –
Spirou | 4 | 2 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 | 2005, 2012
Bree | 1 | 2 | 2005 | 2007, 2008
Mons-Hainaut | – | 6 | – | 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2020, 2021
Antwerp Giants | – | 4 | – | 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
Okapi Aalstar | – | 3 | – | 2011, 2014, 2016
Kangoeroes Mechelen | – | 2 | – | 2022, 2025
Liège | – | 1 | – | 2010
Brussels | – | 1 | – | 2017

## Title holders

[edit]

* 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
* 1953–53 Royal IV
* 1953–54 Royal IV
* 1954–55 Hellas Gent
* 1955–56 Antwerpse
* 1956–57 Royal IV
* 1957–58 Royal IV
* 1958–59 Antwerpse
* 1959–60 Antwerpse
* 1960–61 Antwerpse
* 1961–62 Antwerpse
* 1962–63 Antwerpse
* 1963–64 Antwerpse
* 1964–65 Racing Mechelen
* 1965–66 Racing Mechelen
* 1966–67 Racing Mechelen
* 1967–68 Standard Liège
* 1968–69 Racing Bell Mechelen
* 1969–70 Standard Liège
* 1970–71 Bus Fruit Lier
* 1971–72 Bus Fruit Lier
* 1972–73 Racing Antwerpen
* 1973–74 Maes Pils
* 1974–75 Maes Pils
* 1975–76 Maes Pils
* 1976–77 Standard Liège
* 1977–78 Fresh Air
* 1978–79 Fresh Air
* 1979–80 Maes Pils
* 1980–81 Sunair Oostende
* 1981–82 Sunair Oostende
* 1982–83 Sunair Oostende
* 1983–84 Sunair Oostende
* 1984–85 Sunair Oostende
* 1985–86 Sunair Oostende
* 1986–87 Maes Pils
* 1987–88 Sunair Oostende
* 1988–89 Maes Pils
* 1989–90 Maes Pils
* 1990–91 Maes Pils
* 1991–92 Maes Pils
* 1992–93 Maes Pils
* 1993–94 Maes Pils
* 1994–95 Sunair Oostende
* 1995–96 Spirou
* 1996–97 Spirou
* 1997–98 Spirou
* 1998–99 Spirou
* 1999–00 Telindus Racing Antwerpen
* 2000–01 Telindus Oostende
* 2001–02 Telindus Oostende
* 2002–03 Spirou
* 2003–04 Spirou
* 2004–05 Euphony Bree
* 2005–06 Telindus Oostende
* 2006–07 Telindus Oostende
* 2007–08 Spirou
* 2008–09 Spirou
* 2009–10 Spirou
* 2010–11 Spirou
* 2011–12 Telenet Oostende
* 2012–13 Telenet Oostende
* 2013–14 Telenet Oostende
* 2014–15 Telenet Oostende
* 2015–16 Telenet Oostende
* 2016–17 Telenet Oostende
* 2017–18 Telenet Oostende
* 2018–19 Filou Oostende
* 2019–20 Filou Oostende
* 2020–21 Filou Oostende
* 2021–22 Filou Oostende
* 2022–23 Filou Oostende
* 2023–24 Filou Oostende
* 2024–25 Filou Oostende

## Performance by club

[edit]

Key

| Denotes a team that has been dissolved.

|

Titles  | Team  | Seasons

|
|

| Oostende | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

| Racing Mechelen+ | 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

| Spirou | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

| Antwerpse+ | 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1973

| Royal IV+ | 1939, 1942, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958

| Semailles+ | 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951

| Fresh Air | 1937, 1938, 1978, 1979

| Brussels A.C.+ | 1928, 1930, 1931, 1933

| Daring B.C.+ | 1929, 1932, 1934

| Standard Liège+ | 1968, 1970, 1977

| Lier+ | 1971, 1972

| Amicale Sportive+ | 1935, 1936

| Bree+ | 2005

| Antwerp Giants | 2000

| Hellas Gent+ | 1955

## Individual awards

[edit]

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.

* Belgian Basketball Player of the year
* Coach of the Year
* MVP
* Star of the Coaches
* Young Player of the Year
* Lifetime Achievement Award

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Statuten Pro Basketball League" (PDF) (in Dutch). Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
2. ^ "The Pro Basketball League and Dutch Basketball League about to launch BeNeLeague as of the 2021–2022 season". Pro Basketball League. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
3. ^ "Arthur Goethals nieuwe voorzitter Pro Basketball League". Het Nieuwsblad.
4. ^ "Basketbalcompetitie bij mannen definitief stopgezet: Oostende is weer kampioen". Sporza.be. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
5. ^ "Scooore! League makes way for Euromillions Basketball League". Scooore! League. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
6. ^ "A, B en C-licentie in 2009-2010 in Ethias League". Nieuwsblad.be. 12 March 2009.
7. ^ "Licentiereglement vzw BLB ter deelname aan competitie – Types van licentie" (PDF). BLB. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.

## Sources

[edit]

* List of Champions

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Eurobasket.com League Page

* v
* t
* e

Pro Basketball League

* Basketball League Belgium

Seasons|

* 1927–28
* 1928–29
* 1929–30
* 1930–31
* 1931–32
* 1932–33
* 1933–34
* 1934–35
* 1935–36
* 1936–37
* 1937–38
* 1938–39
* 1939–40
* 1940–41
* 1941–42
* 1942–43
* 1943–44
* 1944–45
* 1945–46
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1949–50
* 1950–51
* 1951–52
* 1952–53
* 1953–54
* 1954–55
* 1955–56
* 1956–57
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60
* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70
* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21

Clubs|

| 2020–21 season|

* Mons-Hainaut
* Okapi Aalst
* Oostende
* Limburg United
* Kangoeroes Mechelen
* Phoenix Brussels
* Spirou Charleroi
* Leuven Bears
* Antwerp Giants
* Liège Basket

|

Former|

* Antwerpse
* Bree
* Fresh Air
* Gent Hawks
* GSG Aarschot
* Lier
* Maccabi Brussels
* SKT Ieper
* R.C. Mechelen
* Standard Liège
* Wevelgem
* Wolves Verviers-Pepinster

Awards|

* Most Valuable Player
* Coach of the Year
* Belgian Player of the Year
* Star of the Coaches
* Rising Star
* Lifetime Achievement Award

Statistical leaders|

* Scoring
* Rebounds
* Assists
* Steals
* Blocks

Related competitions (awards)|

* Belgian Cup (Belgian Cup MVP)
* Belgian Supercup

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Men's basketball leagues

* FIBA
* FIBA Intercontinental Cup
* NBA vs. international teams
* NBA vs. EuroLeague
* NBA vs. NBL Australia

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* 2nd
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Central African Republic
* Comoros
* Egypt
* Guinea
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Nigeria
* 2nd
* Rwanda
* 2nd
* Senegal
* 2nd
* Seychelles
* South Africa
* BNL
* National
* Tanzania
* Tunisia
* 2nd
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

Americas|

* Argentina
* 2nd
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* 2nd
* Canada
* NBA G League
* BSL
* CEBL
* Chile
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic (Torneo Superior de Baloncesto)
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Mexico
* CIBACOPA
* NBA G League
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Puerto Rico
* United States
* ABA
* NBA G League
* TBL
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Asia|

* Bahrain
* China
* NBL
* Hong Kong
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Kuwait
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Mongolia
* Oman
* Philippines
* PBA
* PBA D-League
* MPBL
* NBL–Pilipinas
* PSL
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Syria
* Taiwan
* P. League+
* TPBL
* SBL
* Thailand
* United Arab Emirates
* Vietnam

Europe|

* Albania
* 2nd
* Austria
* 2nd
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* 2nd – RS
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* 2nd
* Cyprus
* North
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* 2nd
* Finland
* 2nd
* France
* 2nd
* 3rd
* Georgia
* Germany
* 2nd
* 3rd
* Great Britain
* England
* Scotland
* Greece
* 2nd
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Israel
* 2nd
* 3rd
* Italy
* 2nd
* 3rd
* Kosovo
* 2nd
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* 2nd
* 3rd
* Luxembourg
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* 2nd
* Portugal
* 2nd
* Romania
* 2nd
* Russia
* 2nd
* Serbia
* 2nd
* 3rd
* 4th
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* 2nd
* 3rd
* Sweden
* 2nd
* 3rd
* Switzerland
* 2nd
* Turkey
* 2nd
* 3rd
* Ukraine
* 2nd

Oceania|

* Australia
* New Zealand

International
tournaments|

| Africa|

* Basketball Africa League
* Arab Club Basketball Championship
* East Africa Basketball Championship Cup

|

Americas|

* FIBA Champions League Americas
* FIBA South American League

Asia|

* Basketball Champions League Asia
* East Asia Super League
* West Asia Super League
* Arab Club Basketball Championship
* AsiaBasket

Europe|

* EuroLeague
* EuroCup
* FIBA Champions League
* FIBA Europe Cup
* Adriatic League
* 2nd
* Alpe Adria Cup
* Balkan League
* Caucasus Basketball League
* European North Basketball League
* Latvian–Estonian Basketball League
* Liga Unike
* VTB United League

Defunct
tournaments|

| Africa|

* FIBA Africa Basketball League

|

Americas|

* FIBA Americas League
* Pan American Championship
* South American Championship
* Torneo InterLigas
* Argentina
* Brazil
* Chile
* Canada
* NBLC
* United States
* ABA
* CBA
* USBL
* Uruguay

Asia|

* ABA Club Championship
* ASEAN League
* WABA Champions Cup
* Japan
* bj league
* NBL
* NBDL
* JBL
* Taiwan
* Chinese Basketball Alliance
* T1 League

Europe|

* SuproLeague
* Saporta Cup
* Korać Cup
* EuroChallenge
* EuroCup Challenge
* Baltic League
* Central European League
* Latin Cup
* North European League
* Czechoslovakia
* England
* Russia
* Serbia and Montenegro
* 2nd
* Spain
* Soviet Union
* Turkey
* Yugoslavia
* 2nd

* Category

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