Changes mean record number of BBL games
Lions see competition's format changed again
The British Basketball League has confirmed the structure of their competitions – the BBL Championship and Play-offs, the BBL Cup, and the BBL Trophy – for the 2009/10 season, which begins in September.
Significant changes are set for one of the league's peripheral competitions, the BBL Trophy, which now takes the form of a straight knockout competition and incorporates the top three English Basketball League teams from Division One last season, Reading Rockets, Manchester Magic and London Leopards.
The first round of games and the quarter-finals will be one-off ties, with the semi-finals being contested over two legs – home and away – and being decided by aggregate score.
The culmination of the BBL Trophy will take place in a one- off game at a central venue in mid March.
The BBL Cup format is set to remain the same as last season with three teams receiving a bye from the first round based on their BBL Championship position last season. The three this time being Newcastle Eagles, Everton Tigers and Leicester Riders.
As with the BBL Trophy, the opening rounds will be one-off games, with the semi finals then contested over two legs – home and away – and are decided by the aggregate score.
The conclusion of the BBL Cup competition will take place in a one-off game at a central venue in January, when the first piece of silverware of the new season is handed out.
The BBL Championship will begin on Friday September 25 and the format will remain the same as the recently completed campaign, but will now include a 13th team – the Essex Pirates.
Clubs will each play 36 regular season fixtures, with the teams meeting one another once at home, once away, and then once home or away.
Two points are awarded for a win, and the top eight teams at the end of the regular season will progress to the play-offs in April.
The format for the post-season competition also sees a modification.
While the quarter-final games will remain as one-off encounters, the semi-final rounds will now be fought-out over two legs and the higher seed will get the choice of home advantage in either the first or second leg. Aggregate scores will determine the victors.
The climax of the season will now be a single day showpiece event in early May.
A full fixture list, BBL Cup and BBL Trophy draws, are due to be announced in early July.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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