Liga Profesional de Baloncesto
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Founded | 1974 |
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First season | 1974 |
Country |
|
Conferences | Eastern / Western |
Number of teams | 10 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
International cup(s) | FIBA Americas League |
Current champions | Guaros de Lara (1st title) |
Most championships | Marinos (11 titles) |
Website |
www |
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The Liga Profesional de Baloncesto (LPB) is the Venezuelan first division national professional basketball league. The league is considered one of the best in South America. Marinos are the best team historically, as the club has captured a record 11 titles.
The winners and runners-up of each LPB season qualify for the FIBA Americas League regular season.
History
The league was founded in 1974 as Liga Especial de Baloncesto, as it started with four teams in the competition. Each team was allowed to have two foreign players. In 1992 the league expanded to 8 teams and was renamed Liga Profesional de Baloncesto (LPB).
Format and rules
The competition consists of 10 teams divided in two conferences (West and East) who play each other twice at home and twice away in the regular season, for a total of 36 games. After that, the top four teams of each conference advance to the Playoffs. Every round (1st round, conference finals and league finals) are played in a best-of-seven format.
The regular season starts in February of each year and ends in May. Also, like the NBA, a All-Star Game is held at the middle of the season.
The rule that only two foreign players can play per team still stands.
Current teams
Seasons
Performance by club
Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence.
Club | Wins | Seasons won |
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Marinos | 1991, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 | |
Trotamundos | 8 | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2002, 2006 |
Guaiqueríes de Margarita | 8 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1997, 2007 |
Cocodrilos de Caracas | 6 | 1992, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015–16 |
Gaiteros del Zulia | 4 | 1984, 1985, 1996, 2001 |
Halcones de Caracas | 1974 | |
Panteras de Miranda | 1995 | |
Guaros de Lara | 1 | 2017 |
Legisladores de Carabobo | 1975 | |
Panteras del Táchira | 1976 | |
Panteras de Lara | 1983 | |
Cardenales de Portuguesa | 1989 | |
Awards
- Most Valuable Player
- Grand Final MVP
- Rookie of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Sixth Man of the Year
- Most Improved Player of the Year
- Return of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Exemplary Player of the Year
- Ideal Team of the Year
- Exemplary Team of the Year
- Manager of the Year
External links
- Official site (Spanish)
- Venezuelan league on Latinbasket.com (in English)