Liga Nacional de Básquet

Liga Nacional de Básquet (LNB)
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2016–17
Sport Basketball
Founder León Najnudel
Inaugural season 26 April 1985 (1985-04-26)
President Fabián Borro (AdC)
No. of teams 20
Country Argentina
Most recent
champion(s)
San Lorenzo
Most titles Atenas
(9 titles)
TV partner(s) TyC Sports
Level on pyramid First Division
Relegation to Torneo Nacional de Ascenso
Related
competitions
Torneo Súper 8
Official website laliganacional.com.ar

The Liga Nacional de Básquet (abbreviated LNB, and literally in English "National Basketball League") is the top 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 is the defunct Campeonato Argentino de Clubes, organized by the Argentine Basketball Federation.

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

A tribute to Najnudel's vision is the string of successes of the Argentine national basketball team, culminating with the team's Olympic 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 16 teams, which are later divided into two Divisions, 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 Division only, with standings decided by a points system. On the second stage, each team carries over 50% of the points obtained in the first stage and a new double round-robin starts, this time between all 16 teams. After the regular season ends, the standings determine different outcomes which are as follows:

The Championship Playoffs follow a tournament format, where each team plays against the opponent in a best-of-five series in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and a best-of-seven series in the finals.

Torneo Nacional de Ascenso

The TNA consists of 21 teams, which are divided into two Divisions, North and South, with 10 teams going to the North Division and 11 teams going to the South Division. The competition format is similar to the 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. After the first phase each team carries over 50% of the points obtained to the second stage. On the second stage, each division is split into two groups as follows: the top five teams from the North Division (TNA1 North), the top six teams from the South Division (TNA1 South), and the remaining teams from the North and South groups (TNA2 North and TNA2 South, respectively). Each group then competes in a separate double round-robin.

Current teams (2015–16 season)

Conferencia Norte
Team City Seasons Arena Capacity
Atenas Córdoba 30 Carlos Cerutti 3,730
Ciclista Olímpico La Banda 9 Vicente Rosales 3,964
Estudiantes (C) Concordia 4 Gigante Verde 1,610
Juventud Sionista Paraná 8 Moisés Flesler 2,150
Regatas (Ctes) Corrientes 10 José Jorge Contte 4,000
San Martín (C) Corrientes 1 Raúl A. Ortiz 2,500
Instituto (C) Córdoba 2 Angel Sandrin 2,000
Libertad Sunchales 16 El Hogar de los Tigres 4,000
Quimsa Santiago del Estero 8 Estadio Ciudad 5,200
La Unión Formosa 6 Cincuentenario 4,500
Conferencia Sur
Team City Seasons Arena Capacity
Argentino de Junín Junín 6 El Fortín de las Morochas 1,465
Boca Juniors Buenos Aires 25 Luis Conde 2,000
Estudiantes (BB) Bahía Blanca 26 Osvaldo Casanova 3,950
Ferro Carril Oeste Buenos Aires 20 Estadio Héctor Etchart 4,500
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) Comodoro Rivadavia 25 Socios Fundadores 2,276
Lanús Lanús 6 Antonio Rotili 4,000
Obras Sanitarias Buenos Aires 17 Estadio Obras 3,000
Peñarol (MdP) Mar del Plata 27 Islas Malvinas 8,000
San Lorenzo Buenos Aires 1 Estadio Héctor Etchart 4,500
Quilmes Mar del Plata 20 Once Unidos 3,000

Champions

Finals

Season Champion Runner-Up Result League MVP Finals MVP Winning Coach
1985 Ferro Carril Oeste Atenas 2–1 (not chosen) Sebastián Uranga (Ferro) Luis Martínez
1986 Ferro Carril Oeste Olimpo 3–1 (not chosen) Michael Schlegel (Ferro) Luis Martínez
1987 Atenas Ferro Carril Oeste 3–1 Germán Filloy (Atenas) Héctor Campana (Atenas) Walter Garrone
1988 Atenas River Plate 3–0 (not chosen) Carlos Cerutti (Atenas) Walter Garrone
1989 Ferro Carril Oeste Atenas 3–2 Héctor Campana (River Plate) James Thomas (Ferro) León Najnudel
1990 Atenas Cañadense 3–0 Héctor Campana (River Plate) Marcelo Milanesio (Atenas) Walter Garrone
1990–91 GEPU Estudiantes (BB) 4–2 Héctor Campana (GEPU) Héctor Campana (GEPU) Daniel Rodríguez
1991–92 Atenas GEPU 4–1 Marcelo Milanesio (Atenas) Héctor Campana (Atenas)Rubén Magnano
1992–93 GEPU Atenas 4–2 Juan Espil (GEPU) Juan Espil (GEPU) Orlando Ferratto
1993–94 Peñarol (MDP) Independiente (GP) 4–1 Marcelo Milanesio (Atenas) Esteban de la Fuente (Peñarol) Néstor García
1994–95 Independiente (GP) Olimpia (VT) 4–1 Hernán Montenegro (Gimnasia (CR)) Esteban de la Fuente (Independiente (GP)) Mario Guzmán
1995–96 Olimpia (VT) Atenas 4–3 Michael Wilson (Olimpia (VT)) Jorge Racca (Olimpia (VT)) Horacio Seguí
1996–97 Boca Juniors Independiente (GP) 4–1 Jorge Racca (Olimpia (VT)) Byron Wilson (Boca Juniors) Julio Lamas
1997–98 Atenas Boca Juniors 4–0 Fabricio Oberto (Atenas) Fabricio Oberto (Atenas) Rubén Magnano
1998–99 Atenas Independiente (GP) 4–3 Héctor Campana (Atenas) Diego Osella (Atenas) Rubén Magnano
1999–00 Estudiantes (O) Atenas 4–3 Rubén Wolkowyski (Estudiantes (O)) Rubén Wolkowyski (Estudiantes (O)) Sergio Hernández
2000–01 Estudiantes (O) Libertad 4–1 Wálter Herrmann (Atenas) Byron Wilson (Estudiantes (O)) Sergio Hernández
2001–02 Atenas Estudiantes (O) 4–1 Daniel Farabello (Quilmes (MDP)) Wálter Herrmann (Atenas) Horacio Seguí
2002–03 Atenas Boca Juniors 4–2 Bruno Lábaque (Atenas) Diego Lo Grippo (Atenas) Oscar Sánchez
2003–04 Boca Juniors Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) 4–2 Leonardo Gutiérrez (Obras Sanitarias) Byron Wilson (Boca Juniors) Sergio Hernández
2004–05 Ben Hur Boca Juniors 4–1 Leonardo Gutiérrez (Ben Hur) Leonardo Gutiérrez (Ben Hur) Julio Lamas
2005–06 Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) Libertad 4–2 Leonardo Gutiérrez (Ben Hur) Gabriel Cocha (Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)) Fernando Duró
2006–07 Boca Juniors Peñarol 4–2 Gabriel Mikulas (Peñarol) Leonardo Gutiérrez (Boca Juniors) Gabriel Piccato
2007–08 Libertad Quimsa 4–0 Leonardo Gutiérrez (Boca Juniors) Laron Profit (Libertad) Julio Lamas
2008–09 Atenas Peñarol 4–2 David Jackson (Peñarol) Andre Laws (Atenas) Rubén Magnano
2009–10 Peñarol (MDP) Atenas 4–1Leonardo Gutiérrez (Peñarol) Leonardo Gutiérrez (Peñarol) Sergio Hernández
2010–11 Peñarol (MDP) Atenas 4–1 J.P. Gutiérrez (Obras Sanitarias) Leonardo Gutiérrez (Peñarol) Sergio Hernández
2011–12 Peñarol (MDP) Obras Sanitarias 4–2 J.P. Gutiérrez (Obras Sanitarias) Facundo Campazzo (Peñarol) Sergio Hernández
2012–13 Regatas (C) Lanús 4–0 Paolo Quinteros (Regatas) Paolo Quinteros (Regatas (C)) Nicolás Casalánguida
2013–14 Peñarol (MDP) Regatas 4–2 Walter Herrmann (Atenas) Facundo Campazzo (Peñarol) Fernando Rivero
2014–15 Quimsa Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) 4–2 Nicolás Aguirre (Quimsa) Robert Battle (Quimsa) Silvio Santander
2015–16 San Lorenzo La Unión 4–0 Justin Williams (Ciclista Olímpico) Walter Herrmann (San Lorenzo) Julio Lamas

Source: LNB website.[6]

Titles by club

Titles Club Years won
9 Atenas 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991–92, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2008–09
5 Peñarol 1993–94, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
3
Boca Juniors 1996–97, 2003–04, 2006–07
Ferro Carril Oeste 1985, 1986, 1989
2
GEPU 1990–91, 1992–93
Estudiantes 1999–00, 2000–01
1
Independiente 1994–95
Olimpia 1995–96
Ben Hur 2004–05
GECR 2005–06
Libertad 2007–08
Regatas Corrientes 2012–13
Quimsa 2014–15
San Lorenzo 2015–16

Top scorers

Source: LNB website.[7]

Season Player Club Points Average Played
1985 Uruguay Wilfredo Ruiz Estudiantes (BB) 1,117 32.9 34
1986 Uruguay Wilfredo Ruiz Estudiantes (BB) 1,008 31.5 32
1987 Uruguay Wilfredo Ruiz Estudiantes (BB) 913 30.4 30
1988 Argentina Luis González Atlético Echagüe 896 28.9 31
1989 Argentina Héctor Campana River Plate 1,041 29.7 35
1990 Argentina Héctor Campana River Plate 1,148 44.2 26
1990–91 Argentina Héctor Campana GEPU 1,448 31.5 46
1991–92 Argentina Héctor Campana Atenas 1,360 27.8 49
1992–93 Argentina Juan Espil GEPU 1,672 28.8 58
1993–94 United States Andrew Moten Gimnasia y Esgrima CR 896 29.9 30
1994–95 Argentina Juan Espil Atenas 1,470 28.8 51
1995–96 Argentina Juan Espil Atenas 1,782 31.3 57
1996–97 United States Charlie Burke Pico F.C. 1,088 29.4 37
1997–98 United States Corey Allen Pico F.C. 1,415 28.9 49
1998–99 United States John Eubanks Estudiantes (O) 1,060 25.9 41
1999–00 United States John Eubanks Estudiantes (O) 1,514 27.5 55
2000–01 United States Joseph Bunn Peñarol MdP 1,208 25.2 48
2001–02 United States Joseph Bunn Atenas 625 26.0 24
2002–03 United States Joshua Pittman Quilmes 626 26.1 24
2003–04 United States Joseph Bunn Peñarol MdP 1,209 32.7 37
2004–05 Argentina Paolo Quinteros Boca Juniors 1,232 22.4 55
2005–06 United States Joseph Bunn Peñarol MdP 1,371 28.6 48
2006–07 United States Clarence Robinson Quilmes 981 20.4 48
2007–08 Argentina Leonardo Gutiérrez Boca Juniors 993 20.7 48
2008–09 United States Edward Nelson Estudiantes (BB) 946 20.1 47
2009–10 United States David Jackson La Unión 927 18.9 49
2010–11 United States Joseph Bunn Argentino de Junín 882 19.6 45
2011–12 United States Joseph Troy Smith La Unión 745 17.3 43
2012–13 United States Darren Phillip Unión Progresista 823 18.3 45
2013–14 United States Walter Baxley Quilmes (MDP) 983 19.3 51
2014–15 United States Walter Baxley Quilmes (MDP) 1,290 20.5 63
2015–16 United States Walter Baxley Quilmes (MDP) 1,328 23.7 56

Retired numbers

There are six numbers retired in the LNB to date. Atenas was the team which started this practise (in 2002, with the legendary Marcelo Milanesio's #9), being Peñarol de Mar del Plata the most recent case of retiring a jersey, with the #8 worn by "Tato" Rodríguez.[8][9]

Club Player Pos. Tenure Num.
Retirement
Refs
5 Atenas Argentina Héctor Campana SG 1982–2002 2005 [9][10]
9 Atenas Argentina Marcelo Milanesio PG 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–2000, 2002–04 2002 [9]
10 Estudiantes (BB) Argentina Juan Espil SG 1988–92, 2010–12 2013 [11]
11 Atenas Argentina Diego Osella C 1988–92, 1993–2001, 2003–10 2011 [12][13][14]
14 Estudiantes (BB) Argentina Alberto Cabrera PG 1961–84 2004 [15][16]
11 Quimsa Argentina Miguel Cortijo PG (None) 1 [8]
4 Quilmes (MdP) Argentina Eduardo Dómine SG 1990, 1991–2001 [8]

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

External links

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