Liga Nacional de Básquet

Liga Nacional de Básquet (LNB)
La Liga
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2017–18 Liga Nacional de Básquet season
La Liga
Sport Basketball
Founder León Najnudel
Inaugural season 26 April 1985 (1985-04-26)
President Fabián Borro (AdC)
No. of teams 20
Country Argentina Argentina
Continent South America South America
Most recent
champion(s)		 San Lorenzo
Most titles Atenas
(9 titles)
TV partner(s) TyC Sports
TyC Max
DIRECTV Sports
Level on pyramid First Division
Relegation to Torneo Nacional de Ascenso
Official website laliganacional.com.ar

The Liga Nacional de Básquet (abbreviated LNB, and literally in English, "National Basketball League"), also commonly referred to as "La Liga" ("The League"), is the top-tier level of the Argentine basketball league system. The league is controlled by the Basketball Clubs' Association (in Spanish: Asociación de Clubes de Básquetbol). The LNB's predecessor league is the now defunct Campeonato Argentino de Clubes, which was organized by the Argentine Basketball Federation.

The league was created through the efforts of basketball coach León Najnudel, and sports journalist Osvaldo Orcasitas, in the 1980s, to make Argentine men's club basketball more competitive, through the merging of the many existing local leagues.[1] It is designed like the NBA, with a regular season, all-star game, and playoffs. However, unlike the NBA, the LNB has a promotion and relegation system, with the Torneo Nacional de Ascenso (TNA), the league level that is immediately below the LNB.

A tribute to Najnudel's vision, is the string of successes of the senior men's Argentine national basketball team, culminating with the team's Summer Olympic Games gold medal won at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and the international careers of many players who started in the league.

History

Creation

León Najnudel with the ball in the first LNB game ever: Argentino de Firmat v. San Lorenzo (in red uniform), 26 April 1985.
Ferro C. Oeste, the first champion of the LNB.

Before the league was established, the regular tournament was Campeonato Argentino de Clubes where teams from all the provinces took part. The league had a regional format and playoffs.

For the 1984 edition there was 64 teams. The association decided to retire 10 teams, moving them to "Primera Nacional A".[2] Of those teams, 4 were from city of Buenos Aires, and the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Santa Fe were represented by 2 teams each.

As a result, a number of 54 teams played the Argentino de clubes. At the end of the tournament, the six best placed team would promote to Primera A, and the rest of the clubs would be relegated to Primera B (second division).[3]

First seasons

The first edition of Liga Nacional was played within 1985, with 16 teams participating although Independiente de Tucumán abandoned the championship for economic reasons. The first game was played on April 26, 1985,[4] when San Lorenzo de Almagro faced Argentino de Firmat at Estadio Obras Sanitarias.

Ferro Carril Oeste was the first LNB champion after defeating Atenas de Córdoba in 3 games. The next season (1986), Ferro Carril Oeste won its second consecutive title, beating Olimpo de Bahía Blanca in 5 games (3-1 on aggregate). The Verdolaga played its third consecutive final series in 1987, but was finally defeated by Atenas, that won the first of 9 titles, being the most winning LNB team to date.

In 1988 Atenas won a second championship beating River Plate and the next year Ferro won another title, being the only title won by León Najnudel as coach.

Competition format

Following a system similar to the European basketball leagues, there are two leves of competition: the Liga A (first division) and the Torneo Nacional de Ascenso (National Promotion Tournament in English ") or TNA (second division). Both tournaments feature promotions and relegations and are organized by the Clubs Association of Argentina. On the 2011–12 season a third level of competition was inaugurated, the Torneo Federal de Básquetbol,[5] which encompasses a wide array of teams from all over the country and is organized by the Argentine Basketball Federation. An additional short tournament between the top seven teams in the first division and a wild card takes place before the start of the regular season.

Liga A

The top tier of the league consists of 20 teams, which are later divided into two Conferences, North and South, according to their geographical location. The regular season is divided in two stages: the first stage consists of a double round-robin between teams on the same Conference only, with standings decided by a points system. On the second stage, each team carries over 100% of the points obtained in the first stage and a new double round-robin starts, this time between all 20 teams, maintaining separate standings for each Conference. After the regular season ends, the standings in each Conference determine different outcomes which are as follows:

  • 1st–2nd place – Advance directly to the Conference semifinals.
  • 3rd–6th place – Advance to the Conference quarterfinals.
  • 10th place from each Conference – Compete in a best-of-five series where the loser is relegated to the Torneo Nacional de Ascenso.

The Championship Playoffs follow a tournament format, where each team plays against the opponent in a best-of-five series in the Conference quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, and a best-of-seven series in the Championship Finals. The Champion and runner-up earn berths to next year's edition of the FIBA Americas League. The runners-up from each Conference final earn berth's to next year's edition of the Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol.

Top 4

The top two teams from each Conference play in this tournament. The winner earns a berth in the Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol. If the winner already qualified by merit of reaching the Conference finals the previous year, the next best team overall from both Conferences that hasn't already qualified will get the spot.

Torneo Nacional de Ascenso

The TNA consists of 26 teams, which are divided into four Divisions: North Center North, South and Center South, with 7 teams going to the North and Center South Divisions and 6 teams going to the Center North and South Divisions. The competition format is similar to that of Liga A, with a regular season divided in two stages. On the first stage, teams from the same division compete in a double round-robin format, with standings determined by a points system. Teams from the Center North and South Divisions will play two extra interzone matches.

After the first phase each team carries over 100% of the points obtained to the second stage. On the second stage, two Conferences (North and South) are formed uniting the four divisions, so each Conference has a total of 13 teams each. A new double round-robin series of matches takes place, with the final standings in each conference determined by the same points system of the first stage.

The final stage of the tournament follow a playoff format. The top four teams from each Conference advance directly to the Conference quarterfinals, while the teams ranked from 5th to 12th place in each Conference compete in a separate bracket to allocate the remaining berths for the Conference quarterfinals. Every series in this final stage follow a best-of-five format. The winning team of the Finals will earn a spot in the top tier the following year.

Current teams (2017–18 season)

Conferencia Norte
Team City Seasons Arena Capacity
AtenasCórdoba30Carlos Cerutti
3,730
Ciclista OlímpicoLa Banda9Vicente Rosales
3,964
Estudiantes (C)Concordia4Gigante Verde
1,610
Atlético Echagüe ClubParaná8Luis Butta
2,300
Regatas (Ctes)Corrientes10José Jorge Contte
4,000
San Martín (C)Corrientes2Raúl A. Ortiz
2,500
Instituto (C)Córdoba2Angel Sandrin
2,000
ComunicacionesMercedes, Corrientes1Estadio Cubierto Comunicaciones
4,000
QuimsaSantiago del Estero8Estadio Ciudad
5,200
La UniónFormosa6Cincuentenario
4,500
Conferencia Sur
Team City Seasons Arena Capacity
Argentino de JunínJunín6El Fortín de las Morochas
1,465
Boca JuniorsBuenos Aires25Luis Conde
2,000
Estudiantes (BB)Bahía Blanca26Estadio Osvaldo Casanova
3,950
Ferro Carril OesteBuenos Aires20Estadio Héctor Etchart
4,500
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)Comodoro Rivadavia25Socios Fundadores
2,276
Hispano AmericanoRio Gallegos2Boxing Club
2,000
Obras SanitariasBuenos Aires17Estadio Obras (Templo del Rock)
3,000
Peñarol (MdP)Mar del Plata27Islas Malvinas
8,000
San LorenzoBuenos Aires3Polideportivo Roberto Pando
2,700
QuilmesMar del Plata20Once Unidos
3,000

Champions

List of finals

Season Champion Runner-Up Result Winning Coach
1985
Ferro Carril OesteAtenas2–1Luis Martínez
1986
Ferro Carril OesteOlimpo3–1Luis Martínez
1987
AtenasFerro Carril Oeste3–1Walter Garrone
1988
AtenasRiver Plate3–0Walter Garrone
1989
Ferro Carril OesteAtenas3–2León Najnudel
1990
AtenasCañadense3–0Walter Garrone
1990–91
GEPUEstudiantes (BB)4–2Daniel Rodríguez
1991–92
AtenasGEPU4–1Rubén Magnano
1992–93
GEPUAtenas4–2Orlando Ferratto
1993–94
Peñarol (MDP)Independiente (GP)4–1Néstor García
1994–95
Independiente (GP)Olimpia (VT)4–1Mario Guzmán
1995–96
Olimpia (VT)Atenas4–3Horacio Seguí
1996–97
Boca JuniorsIndependiente (GP)4–1Julio Lamas
1997–98
AtenasBoca Juniors4–0Rubén Magnano
1998–99
AtenasIndependiente (GP)4–3Rubén Magnano
1999–00
Estudiantes (O)Atenas4–3Sergio Hernández
2000–01
Estudiantes (O)Libertad4–1Sergio Hernández
2001–02
AtenasEstudiantes (O)4–1Horacio Seguí
2002–03
AtenasBoca Juniors4–2Oscar Sánchez
2003–04
Boca JuniorsGimnasia y Esgrima (LP)4–2Sergio Hernández
2004–05
Ben HurBoca Juniors4–1Julio Lamas
2005–06
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)Libertad4–2Fernando Duró
2006–07
Boca JuniorsPeñarol4–2Gabriel Piccato
2007–08
LibertadQuimsa4–0Julio Lamas
2008–09
AtenasPeñarol4–2Rubén Magnano
2009–10
Peñarol (MDP)Atenas4–1Sergio Hernández
2010–11
Peñarol (MDP)Atenas4–1Sergio Hernández
2011–12
Peñarol (MDP)Obras Sanitarias4–2Sergio Hernández
2012–13
Regatas (C)Lanús4–0Nicolás Casalánguida
2013–14
Peñarol (MDP)Regatas4–2Fernando Rivero
2014–15
QuimsaGimnasia y Esgrima (CR)4–2Silvio Santander
2015–16
San LorenzoLa Unión4–0Julio Lamas
2016–17
San LorenzoRegatas4–1Julio Lamas
2017–18
San LorenzoSan Martín (C)4–2Gonzalo García

Source: LNB website.[6]

Titles by club

Titles Club Years won
9Atenas1987, 1988, 1990, 1991–92, 1997–98, 1998–99,
2001–02, 2002–03, 2008–09
5Peñarol1993–94, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
3
Boca Juniors1996–97, 2003–04, 2006–07
Ferro Carril Oeste1985, 1986, 1989
San Lorenzo2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
2
GEPU1990–91, 1992–93
Estudiantes (O)1999–00, 2000–01
1
Independiente1994–95
Olimpia1995–96
Ben Hur2004–05
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)2005–06
Libertad2007–08
Regatas Corrientes2012–13
Quimsa2014–15

Awards

The are the yearly individual awards are given by the league as a recognition to the most valuable player (in both, regular season and finals) and the top scorer. Leonardo Gutiérrez was chosen finals MVP a record of 4 times, while Héctor Campana is the most times top scorer (4 seasons).

Statistical leaders

Retired numbers

As of June 2017, 11 players have their jerseys retired. Atenas was the team which started this practice (in 2002, with legendary Marcelo Milanesio's #9).[7][8][9]

N° Club Player Pos. Tenure Num.
Retirement		 Ref.
9AtenasArgentina Marcelo MilanesioPG1987–1988, 1991–1992,
1996–2000, 2002–2004		2002[8]
14Estudiantes (BB)Argentina Alberto CabreraPG1961–19842004[10][11]
5AtenasArgentina Héctor CampanaSG1982–2002 2005[8][12]
4Quilmes (MdP)Argentina Eduardo DominéSG1990, 1991–20012009[9]
11AtenasArgentina Diego OsellaC1988–1992, 1993–2001, 2003–20102011[13][14][15]
11QuimsaArgentina Miguel CortijoPG(None) [note 1]?[9]
8Peñarol (MDP)Argentina Tato RodríguezPG1994–1998, 1999–2003, 2004–20112011[16][17]
10Estudiantes (BB)Argentina Juan EspilSG/SF1988–1992, 2010–20122013[18][19]
8Quilmes (MdP)Argentina Guillermo García Oyaga1970s–80s [9]2013[9]
7Quilmes (MdP)Argentina Esteban De la FuenteSG/SF1991–93, 1995–97, 2004–052013[9]
7AtenasArgentina Bruno LábaquePG1994–2003, 2006–09, 2010–172017[20]
Notes
  1. ↑ Although Cortijo never played for the club, the #11 jersey was retired honoring him as a native of Santiago del Estero, where Quimsa is located in.

References

  1. ↑ Matías Ron Ares (2010-03-14). "LNB: la historia de su origen" (in Spanish). In Deportes. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  2. ↑ Resolución de 1983 para el Campeonato Argentino de Clubes
  3. ↑ REGLAMENTO PARA LA ETAPA DE TRANSICION COMPETENCIA AÑO 1984
  4. ↑ "Se cumplen 30 años del primer partido oficial de la LNB", Basquet Plus, 26 Apr 2015
  5. ↑ Torneo Federal de Básquetbol Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine., Official site. (in Spanish)
  6. ↑ "Historial de Campeones de la Liga" (in Spanish). LNB official website. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  7. ↑ "Peñarol de Mar del Plata retiró la camiseta de 'Tato' Rodríguez", La Voz, 2011-11-23
  8. 1 2 3 Milanesio y Campana homenajeados con el retiro de las míticas "9" y "5" Pick and Roll website, 2005-11-05
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dorsales retirados que marcaron historia by Mariano Blanco, Diario Epoca, 11 May 2015
  10. ↑ "La 14 inmortal" Pick and Roll site, 2004-10-04 (Archive)
  11. ↑ Ordenanza Nº 14604, declarando "Sitio de Interés Cultural e Histórico" al Estadio Osvaldo Casanova 2008-01-08
  12. ↑ Atenas retira la camiseta de Héctor "Pichi" Campana, Infobae, 2005-07-12
  13. ↑ Atenas retiró el 11 de Diego Osella, Gualeguaychú a Diario webpage
  14. ↑ Atenas retirará la camiseta 11 en homenaje a Diego Osella Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine., La Mañana de Cordoba website
  15. ↑ Atenas retira la camiseta 11 de Osella, Día a Día Deportes
  16. ↑ "Peñarol retiró la camiseta de 'Tato' Rodríguez", La Voz del Interior, 2011-11-24
  17. ↑ "La camiseta de Tato dijo hasta siempre", Pickandroll.com.ar, 2011-11-24 (Archive)
  18. ↑ "Espil tuvo su merecido homenaje en Bahía", Clarín, 23 February 2013
  19. ↑ "Espil vivió su noche soñada" at CanchaLlena.com, 22 February 2013
  20. ↑ Se retiró Lábaque con una derrota frente a Instituto, LNB website, 12 May 2017
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