BBL: 2015 season format announced

After a thrilling anniversary season last year, the Baltic Basketball League (BBL) is getting ready to return even bigger with its’ 11th season, as 22 clubs from 6 countries have their eyes set on the ultimate goal. This year’s competition will include 8 Estonian teams, 6 clubs each from Lithuania and Latvia, and one team apiece representing Finland and Russia.
Apart from the small changes in participating countries, the league will also have some minor alterations in format, as three teams participating in FIBA Europe Challenge Cup and European Cup competitions – Siauliai, TU/Rock and Ventspils – will begin their journey only at the start of the playoffs, seeded respectively first, second and third based on last season’s results, while the 19 remaining teams will be divided into three groups:

Group A
Barons kvartals, Riga (Latvia)
Jurmala, Jurmala (Latvia)
Kalev/Cramo, Tallinn (Estonia)
Parnu, Parnu (Estonia)
Pieno zvaigzdes, Pasvalys (Lithuania)
Tampereen Pyrinto, Tampere (Finland)

Group B
Jekabpils, Jekabpils (Latvia)
Valmiera, Valmiera (Latvia)
TLU Kalev, Tallinn (Estonia)
Valga Kalev, Valga (Estonia)
Lietkabelis, Panevezys (Lithuania)
Prienai, Prienai (Lithuania)
TTU, Tallinn (Estonia)

Group C
Liepaja/Triobet, Liepaja (Latvia)
Rakvere Tarvas, Rakvere (Estonia)
Rapla, Rapla (Estonia)
Juventus, Utena (Lithuania)
Nevezis, Kedainiai (Lithuania)
Dynamo, Moscow (Russia).

The four best teams in each group and the best 5th placed team, which will be determined by total number of points in each group; higher goal difference of all games in the group; higher number of goals in all games in the group, not accounting the games against the team placed 7th, will qualify for the BBL Eighth-Finals.

All qualified teams will be classified from 1st to 13th place according to their win-loss records, place in the group, total number of points in the group, higher goal difference of all games in the group and higher number of goals in all games in the group, once again – not accounting the games against the team placed 7th in Group B. Each of the Eighth-Finals, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals rounds will be played in a series of best of two.

While the official season starts only in mid-October, basketball-thirsty fans will have an opportunity to witness BBL action a couple weeks earlier – the traditional OLYBET BBL Cup, hosted in the Liepajas Olympic Center this year, will kick off the pre-season on the 27th and 28th of September.

During this weekend, last year’s BBL champions Siauliai will look to hold their ground against three menacing teams in TU/Rock, Ventspils and Liepaja/Triobet, who will all be hoping to extend their trophy collection early on in the season.

The first semi-final will start at 17.00 with a Siauliai - TU/Rock matchup, soon to be followed by a Latvian club bash between Liepaja/Triobet and Ventspils, as the latter game tips off at 19.30.

Sunday basketball will start at 14.30 with a battle for the third place, as the losers of each semi-final will go head to head for a podium finish. The grand finale will then be played at 17.00, as the winning sides of each Saturday matchup compete for the trophy.

If you happen to miss the opportunity to visit Liepaja during the tournament, the Baltic Basketball League organization warmly invites you to follow all four matchups broadcasted live on Viasat Sport Baltic.