BBL Trophy
Encyclopedia
The BBL Trophy is one of three cup competitions operated by the British Basketball League
. The competition begins with a regional group format and comprises the BBL clubs divided into four regional qualifying groups of three. The groups are arranged geographically, so for example, the three most Northerly clubs, Glasgow, Newcastle and Durham compete in group 1.
As the Essex Pirates
entered administration prior to the competition beginning, EBL side London Leopards
were invited to take their place in group 3, being the highest ranked EBL side in the region Essex played in.
For the 2006–07 season
special invitees from the EBL Division 1
took part, including the Coventry Crusaders
along with the London Leopards
, Reading Rockets
and Worthing Thunder
. The BBL also welcomed the top two teams from the Scottish Basketball League, the Troon Tornadoes
and Edinburgh Kings
to total the amount of teams competing to 16. The teams were split into four groups and played each of their group rivals once. The team that finished top of each group after that round of games progressed to the semi-finals, which adopted a knockout format, with Newcastle Eagles emerging the eventual winners and beginning what would become a clean-sweep for that season.
Yet the Eagles could not retain the Trophy in the 2007 Final, despite having home court advantage. Plymouth Raiders
claimed their first top-flight silverware with a 74–65 win over Newcastle at the Metro Radio Arena, on 4 March. A superb performance from Raiders' centre Carlton Aaron
earned him the MVP award after scoring a game-high 25 points, as well as grabbing 12 rebounds. The Final was attended by a crowd of over 5,000, and was also the first BBL game broadcast live on MKTV
, as part of a £2.5 million sponsorship deal agreed in 2006.
The defending champions for the 2011/2012 season are the Mersey Tigers
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
. The competition begins with a regional group format and comprises the BBL clubs divided into four regional qualifying groups of three. The groups are arranged geographically, so for example, the three most Northerly clubs, Glasgow, Newcastle and Durham compete in group 1.
As the Essex Pirates
Essex Pirates
Essex Pirates is currently inactive British Basketball League team from Southend-on-Sea, in the county of Essex. They were founded in 2009 and play their home games at the Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre...
entered administration prior to the competition beginning, EBL side London Leopards
London Leopards
The BA London Leopards is a British basketball team who competes in the English Basketball League Division 1. The team was established in 1997 as Ware Fire, but following the demise and eventual closure of the former British Basketball League franchise Essex Leopards in 2003, a supporters group...
were invited to take their place in group 3, being the highest ranked EBL side in the region Essex played in.
For the 2006–07 season
British Basketball League 2006-07
The 2006-07 season, the 20th since its establishment of the British Basketball League, started on September 29, 2006 when reigning champions Newcastle Eagles began with a 85-83 loss away to Sheffield Sharks....
special invitees from the EBL Division 1
English Basketball League
The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League....
took part, including the Coventry Crusaders
Coventry Crusaders
The Coventry Crusaders is a Coventry-based basketball team competing in Division 1 of the English Basketball League. They play their home games at the Coventry Sports Centre, alternatively at the North Solihull Sports Centre, and the junior teams play at the Coventry Sports Centre...
along with the London Leopards
London Leopards
The BA London Leopards is a British basketball team who competes in the English Basketball League Division 1. The team was established in 1997 as Ware Fire, but following the demise and eventual closure of the former British Basketball League franchise Essex Leopards in 2003, a supporters group...
, Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets is a basketball club based in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Currently Reading Rockets play in the English Basketball League Division 1. Reading Rockets work with around 1,000 young players every week in Berkshire...
and Worthing Thunder
Worthing Thunder
Worthing Thunder is a basketball team from Worthing, England. Founded in 1999, until recently they competed in the top-tier British Basketball League, having previously having dominated the lower leagues in recent years, winning back-to-back English Basketball League Division One titles in 2006 and...
. The BBL also welcomed the top two teams from the Scottish Basketball League, the Troon Tornadoes
Troon Tornadoes
The Troon Tornadoes are one of Scotland's leading amateur basketball clubs, competing in the Scottish Men's National League. They are based in the town of Troon, South Ayrshire, but their Senior Men national league side play out of the main sports hall at the Citadel Leisure Centre, Ayr...
and Edinburgh Kings
City of Edinburgh Kings
The City of Edinburgh Kings are one of Scotland's leading basketball clubs. Established in 1988, they are members of the Scottish Basketball League and have won the League Championship seven times; 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; and the National Cup five times; 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008...
to total the amount of teams competing to 16. The teams were split into four groups and played each of their group rivals once. The team that finished top of each group after that round of games progressed to the semi-finals, which adopted a knockout format, with Newcastle Eagles emerging the eventual winners and beginning what would become a clean-sweep for that season.
Yet the Eagles could not retain the Trophy in the 2007 Final, despite having home court advantage. Plymouth Raiders
Plymouth Raiders
The Plymouth Raiders, officially called UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders for sponsorship reasons, is South-west England's leading basketball team. Based in the city of Plymouth, they play their home games at the Pavilions arena and have competed in the top-tier British Basketball League since 2004...
claimed their first top-flight silverware with a 74–65 win over Newcastle at the Metro Radio Arena, on 4 March. A superb performance from Raiders' centre Carlton Aaron
Carlton Aaron
Carlton Aaron is an American professional basketball player who most recently was signed to the Guildford Heat in the British Basketball League....
earned him the MVP award after scoring a game-high 25 points, as well as grabbing 12 rebounds. The Final was attended by a crowd of over 5,000, and was also the first BBL game broadcast live on MKTV
MKTV
MKTV was a satellite television channel, based in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. The channel was launched on February 26, 2006 and created by businessman Jawad Siddiqui. The channel was broadcast on Sky channel 227.- Basketball coverage :...
, as part of a £2.5 million sponsorship deal agreed in 2006.
The defending champions for the 2011/2012 season are the Mersey Tigers
See also
- British Basketball LeagueBritish Basketball LeagueThe British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
- BBL Finals WeekendBBL Finals WeekendThe Finals Weekend is the British Basketball League season showpiece finale, where the Playoff finals of the BBL, English Basketball League and Women's EBL take place. For the 2006-07 season the Finals Weekend will be played on 28 April and 29 April 2007 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle upon...
- BBL CupBBL CupThe BBL Cup is one of two peripheral competitions operated by the British Basketball League during the regular season, the other being the BBL Trophy...
- BBL Cup Winners' CupBBL Cup Winners' CupThe Cup Winners' Cup was a peripheral cup competition of the British Basketball League. It was a pre-season tournament competed over two legs, one home and one away, between the winners of BBL Cup and BBL Trophy from the previous season. Each leg was staged prior to the beginning of the regular...