Latvijas Basketbola līga

Latvian Basketball League
Latvijas Basketbola līga (LBL)
Most recent season or competition:; 2024 LBL Play-offs
Sport	Basketball
Founded	1992 (de facto 1924)
No. of teams	6
Country	Latvia
Continent	FIBA Europe
Most recent; champion(s)	VEF Riga (11th title)
Most titles	VEF Riga; (11)
TV partner(s)	Latvia: LTV7,; TV4;
Level on pyramid	1st tier
Domestic cup(s)	Latvian Basketball Cup
Related; competitions	Nacionālā basketbola līga (LBL 2)
Tournament format	Play-off
Official website	basket.lv

The Latvian Basketball League (LBL; Latvian: Latvijas Basketbola līga) also known as the Pafbet LBL for sponsorship reasons,^[1] is the top-level national basketball championship in Latvia composed of 6 teams. Since 2018/19, only the playoff matches are played, as the top Latvian clubs play the regular season in the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League. The LBL is governed by the Latvian Basketball Association, the national governing body of basketball in Latvia.

Its 6 teams are located in 5 cities; two in Riga, and one in Ventspils, Liepāja, Valmiera, and Ogre. The LBL season usually ran from September to April, with the playoffs in April–May. The league was founded in 1992, and its first season was played in the same year.

History

Before 1992

After American YMCA volunteers introduced the sport in Riga around 1920, interest in the sport grew, and in 1923 the YMCA organized the first ever basketball tournament in Latvia, with 14 teams registering. In 1924, the newly-founded Latvian Basketball Association announced the first Latvian Basketball Championship in the winter of 1924 (Latvian: Latvijas meistarsacīkstes basketbolā) with 6 teams participating.^[2]^[3] It was won by the Latvian Sports Society (Latvijas Sporta biedrība) team, who defeated the Riga YMCA team (Rīgas JKS) in the final game with a score of 25:15.^[4] The first official national women's tournament followed in 1932.^[5]

Early years

The first LBL season was played in 1992, with LBL2 (LBL 2. divīzija) as its second division and LBL3 as the third. From 1992 to 1999 all championships were won by BK Brocēni, however, from 2000 to 2006 BK Ventspils were the champions. In 2007, ASK Rīga stopped BK Ventspils' winning streak. BK Ventspils won again in 2009, beating Barons/LMT in a thriller 4–3.

Later history

Barons would return to the final the following year, this time against VEF Rīga, and win by the same 4–3 margin. The 2011 final again went to 7 games, with VEF Rīga defeating Ventspils. Between 2011 and 2018, the title changed hands frequently, with BK Valmiera Ordo claiming the title in 2016.

Since the introduction of the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League in the 2018/2019 season, the regular LBL championship was merged into the LEBL. The six top Latvian teams then qualify for the LBL playoffs after the end of the LEBL regular season. VEF Rīga has held the title ever since.

For the 2020/2021 season, the 2nd tier Latvian league - LBL2 - was reformed into the Ramirent Nacionālā basketbola līga [lv] (NBL, National Basketball League) and LBL3 became the Reģionālā basketbola līga (Regional Basketball League).

Sponsorships

From 2012 to 2015, the league was known as Aldaris Latvijas Basketbola līga due to the AS Aldaris brewery becoming the general sponsor of the Latvian Basketball Association.^[6] In 2016, they were succeeded by betting brand OlyBet and in 2019 by Pafbet.

Teams

Location of teams in 2023–24 Latvian Basketball League

Team	Home city	Arena
Liepāja	Liepāja	Liepāja Olympic Center
Latvijas Universitāte	Rīga	Olympic Sports Center
Ogre	Ogre	Ogre Secondary School No.1
Valmiera Glass/VIA	Valmiera	Vidzeme Olympic Center
VEF Rīga	Rīga	Olympic Sports Center
Ventspils	Ventspils	Ventspils Olympic Center
Rīgas Zeļļi	Rīga	Daugava Sports Hall

Title holders

Latvian champions

1924 LSB Rīga
1925 JKS Rīga
1926 Rīgas FK
1927 Rīgas FK
1928 LSB Rīga
1929 JKS Rīga
1930 Universitātes Sports
1931 Latvju Jaunatne
1932 JKS Rīga
1933 Latvijas Valsts Karoga Apvienība
1934 Universitātes Sports
1935 Universitātes Sports
1936 Universitātes Sports
1937 Universitātes Sports
1938 Starts Rīga
1939 ASK Rīga
1940 ASK Rīga
1941 RDKA Rīga
1943 Starts Rīga
1944 Starts Rīga

Latvian SSR champions

1945 Daugava Rīga
1946 Daugava Rīga
1947 Daugava Rīga
1948 Daugava Rīga
1949
1950 LVU Rīga
1951 Dinamo Rīga
1952 LVU Rīga
1953 Rīgas ASK
1954 Spartaks Rīga
1955 Spartaks Rīga
1956 Spartaks Rīga
1957 Rīgas ASK
1958 Spartaks Rīga
1959 Rīgas VEF
1960 Rīgas VEF
1961 Rīgas VEF
1962 Rīgas ASK
1963 Liepājas Sarkanais Metalurgs
1964 Lokomotīve Rīga
1965 Rīgas ASK
1966 Rīgas ASK
1967 Rīgas ASK
1968 Liepājas Sarkanais Metalurgs
1969 Rīgas ASK
1970 Lokomotīve Rīga
1971 Rīgas VEF
1972 9. Auda
1973 Rīgas ASK
1974 Rīgas VEF
1975 Rīgas ASK
1976 Rīgas ASK
1977 BK Ķekava
1978 Rīgas ASK
1979 RPI Rīga
1980 BK Ādaži
1981 BK Ķekava
1982 RPI Rīga
1983 LVFKI Rīga
1984 RPI Rīga
1985 Jelgava SCO
1986 Jelgava SCO
1987 Rīgas ASK
1988 Rīgas ASK
1989 LVU Rīga
1990 LVU Rīga
1991 9. Auda

Latvian champions

1992 Brocēni Parair
1992–93 Brocēni
1993–94 SWH Brocēni
1994–95 SWH Brocēni
1995–96 ASK Brocēni
1996–97 ASK Brocēni LMT
1997–98 ASK Brocēni LMT
1998–99 Brocēni LMT
1999–00 Ventspils
2000–01 Ventspils
2001–02 Ventspils
2002–03 Ventspils
2003–04 Ventspils
2004–05 Ventspils
2005–06 Ventspils
2006–07 ASK Riga
2007–08 Barons LMT
2008–09 Ventspils
2009–10 Barons LMT
2010–11 VEF Rīga
2011–12 VEF Rīga
2012–13 VEF Rīga
2013–14 Ventspils
2014–15 VEF Rīga
2015–16 Valmiera Ordo
2016–17 VEF Rīga
2017–18 Ventspils
2018–19 VEF Rīga
2019–20 VEF Rīga
2020–21 VEF Rīga
2021–22 VEF Rīga
2022–23 VEF Rīga
2023-24 VEF Rīga

Performance by club

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Winning Years
VEF Rīga	11	4	2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Ventspils	10	12	2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2018
Brocēni	8	2	1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Barons	2	3	2008, 2010
ASK Riga	1	1	2007
Valmiera	1	0	2016
Bonus	0	4
Skonto	0	3
Ogre	0	1
Metropole	0	1
Liepāja	0	1
Rīgas Zeļļi	0	1

The finals

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Score	Finals MVP
1992	Brocēni Parair	Bonus	2–0
1993	Brocēni	Bonus	3–0
1994	SWH Brocēni	Bonus	3–0
1995	SWH Brocēni	Bonus	4–3
1996	ASK Brocēni	Metropole	4–2
1997	ASK Brocēni LMT	Liepājas Baltika	4–0
1998	ASK Brocēni LMT	Ventspils	4–1	Ainārs Bagatskis
1999	Brocēni LMT	Ventspils	4–2	Edgars Šneps
2000	Ventspils	Brocēni LMT	4–3	Aigars Vītols
2001	Ventspils	BK LMT	4–1
2002	Ventspils	Skonto	4–0	Kristaps Purnis
2003	Ventspils	Skonto	4–1	Mire Chatman
2004	Ventspils	Skonto	4–0	Kestutis Sestokas
2005	Ventspils	Barons	4–0	Justin Love
2006	Ventspils	Barons	4–0	Marijonas Petravičius
2007	ASK Riga	Ventspils	4–2	Sandis Valters
2008	Barons LMT	ASK Riga	4–1	Armands Šķēle
2009	Ventspils	Barons LMT	4–3	Mareks Jurevičus
2010	Barons LMT	VEF Rīga	4–3	Oritseweyinmi Efejuku

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Score	Finals MVP
2011	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–3	Sandis Valters
2012	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–1	Kristaps Janičenoks
2013	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–1	Earl Rowland
2014	Ventspils	VEF Rīga	4–1	Jānis Timma
2015	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–2	Mareks Mejeris
2016	Valmiera Ordo	VEF Rīga	4–3	Artūrs Bērziņš
2017	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–0	Mareks Mejeris
2018	Ventspils	VEF Rīga	4–2	Aigars Šķēle
2019	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–1	Jabril Durham
2020	VEF Rīga	Ogre	Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19
2021	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–0	Kyle Allman Jr.
2022	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–1	Kristers Zoriks
2023	VEF Rīga	Ventspils	4–1	Nysier Brooks
2024	VEF Rīga	Rīgas Zeļļi	4–1	Arnaldo Toro

All–time national champions

Total number of national champions won by Latvian clubs. Table includes titles won during the Latvian Championships (1924–1944) and (1992–present) and the USSR Premier Basketball League (1945–1992).

Club	Trophies	Years won
VEF Rīga	11	2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Ventspils	10	2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2018
Brocēni	8	1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Rīgas ASK	6	1939, 1940, 1941, 1955, 1957, 1958
Universitātes Sports	5	1930, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937
JKS Rīga	3	1925, 1929, 1932
Starts Rīga	3	1938, 1943, 1944
Rīgas FK	2	1926, 1927
LSB Rīga	2	1924, 1928
Barons	2	2008, 2010
Latvju Jaunatne	1	1931
Latvijas Valsts Karoga Apvienība	1	1933
ASK Riga	1	2007
Valmiera	1	2016

Titles by team (only Latvian 1924–2023)

Team	Titles	Champion years
Rīgas ASK	16	1939, 1940, 1941, 1953, 1957, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1987, 1988
VEF Rīga	11	2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Ventspils	10	2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2018
Rīgas VEF	9	1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1971, 1974
Brocēni	8	1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Universitātes Sports	5	1930, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937
Daugava Rīga	4	1945, 1946, 1947, 1948
LVU Rīga	4	1950, 1952, 1989, 1990
JKS Rīga	3	1925, 1929, 1932
Starts Rīga	3	1938, 1943, 1944
RPI Rīga	3	1979, 1982, 1984
Rīgas FK	2	1926, 1927
LSB Rīga	2	1924, 1928
Liepājas Sarkanais Metalurgs	2	1963, 1968
Lokomotīve Rīga	2	1964, 1970
BK Ķekava	2	1977, 1981
Jelgava SCO	2	1985, 1986
9. Auda	2	1972, 1991
Barons	2	2008, 2010
Latvju Jaunatne	1	1931
Latvijas Valsts Karoga Apvienība	1	1933
Dinamo Rīga	1	1951
BK Ādaži	1	1980
LVFKI Rīga	1	1983
ASK Riga	1	2007
Valmiera	1	2016

References

^ "Pafbet LBL".
^ "Federation Focus: Latvia | FIBA Europe".
^ "Basketbols - Vēsture | Latvijas Universitāte". University of Latvia (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
^ Caballero.lv; basketlv (2023-08-12). "Latvijas basketbola 100 gadi: fakti un personības (1923 - 2023)". LatvijaV2 (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
^ "basketbols Latvijā". Latvian National Encyclopedia (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
^ ""Aldaris" kļuvis par LBL ģenerālsponsoru" [Aldaris becomes LBL general sponsor]. Apollo (in Latvian). 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2023-08-31.

External links

Official Website (in Latvian)
Eurobasket.com League Page

[1] "Pafbet LBL".

[2] "Federation Focus: Latvia | FIBA Europe".

[3] "Basketbols - Vēsture | Latvijas Universitāte". University of Latvia (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.

[4] Caballero.lv; basketlv (2023-08-12). "Latvijas basketbola 100 gadi: fakti un personības (1923 - 2023)". LatvijaV2 (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.

[5] "basketbols Latvijā". Latvian National Encyclopedia (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-18.

[6] ""Aldaris" kļuvis par LBL ģenerālsponsoru" [Aldaris becomes LBL general sponsor]. Apollo (in Latvian). 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2023-08-31.

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Most recent season or competition: 2024 LBL Play-offs

Sport	Basketball
Founded	1992 (de facto 1924)
No. of teams	6
Country	Latvia
Continent	FIBA Europe
Most recent champion(s)	VEF Riga (11th title)
Most titles	VEF Riga (11)
TV partner(s)	Latvia: LTV7, TV4
Level on pyramid	1st tier
Domestic cup(s)	Latvian Basketball Cup
Related competitions	Nacionālā basketbola līga (LBL 2)
Tournament format	Play-off
Official website	basket.lv