Champions League 29/06/2016, 17.33

Basketball Champions League clubs and draw date confirmed

The Board also approved the official draw of the competition, which is to take place in Munich, on 21 July

The eagerly anticipated inaugural season of the Basketball Champions League (BCL), the innovative new European club competition, is officially underway with the BCL Board that convened in Munich, Germany on Wednesday 29 June confirming the clubs that will participate in the 2016-17 season, set to tip off in September.

The Board also approved the official draw of the competition, which is to take place in Munich, on 21 July.

The Basketball Champions League made good on its promise and philosophy to deliver a competition based on sporting principles, with a total of 48 teams from 31 different European leagues, including 17 national champions being admitted to the inaugural season. From those the Board approved 24 clubs for a direct spot in the Regular Season. The remaining eight places will be determined through the Qualification Round.

Four Regular Season spots were allocated to French clubs including the country’s champion and Cup winner while two Regular Season places were given to clubs from Italy, Germany, Greece and Turkey. The champions of Belgium, Czech Republic and Israel also get a direct spot in the Regular Season.

A further 24 teams will play in two qualification rounds to determine the remaining eight Regular Season tickets.

Sixteen (16) of those clubs will play in Qualification Round 1 where they will face each other in home and away games. The eight winners will play the eight clubs already placed in Qualification Round 2, home and away, with the eight victors progressing to the Regular Season.