Wikipedia - Liga Nacional de Baloncesto
The Liga Nacional de Baloncesto (LNB) is the top men's professional basketball league in the Dominican Republic. Established in 2005, six teams compete annually between September and October.
History
The league was founded on September 6, 2004 at the Hotel Lina in Santo Domingo as the Liga Dominicana de Baloncesto (Dominican Basketball League), also known as LIDOBA; the founders were a group of investors and former basketball players, supported by the Dominican Basketball Federation. Before the creation of a national league, basketball was practiced at regional and local level.
The teams that participated in the first edition in 2005 were:
- Cañeros de La Romana
- Cocolos de San Pedro de Macorís
- Constituyentes de San Cristóbal
- Indios de San Francisco de Macorís
- Marineros de Puerto Plata
- Metros de Santiago
- Panteras del Distrito Nacional
- Reales de La Vega
The first game was played on July 1, 2005 at the Palacio de los Deportes Virgilio Travieso Soto between Panteras del Distrito Nacional and Indios de San Francisco de Macorís: Panteras won, 79–63. The first league champions were Reales de La Vega, that won the title after winning the best-of-7 championship series against Panteras, 4–2.
In 2009, the league was cancelled due to financial difficulties. On May 19, 2010 the league announced its return under a new branding and name, Liga Nacional de Baloncesto (National Basketball League).
From 2005 to 2017, the league had 8 teams participating every season. In 2018, Huracanes del Atlántico folded, and the league was played by 7 teams (3 in the North conference, and 4 in the Southeast conference). In 2019, Titanes del Distrito Nacional also folded, bringing the team number to 6.
Sesongen varer fra februar til juni, med et sluttspill i juli. De seks beste lagene fra hver konferanse kvalifiserer seg til sluttspillet, som spilles i et best av sju-format. Mesteren av LNB kvalifiserer seg til FIBA Americas League.
Noen av de mest kjente lagene i LNB er:
* Leones de Santo Domingo
* Titanes del Distrito Nacional
* Soles de Santo Domingo Este
* Metros de Santiago
* Panteras de Santiago
LNB er en av de mest populære idrettene i Den dominikanske republikk, og det er ofte høyt nivå på kampene. Ligaen har produsert mange talentfulle spillere, inkludert Al Horford, Karl-Anthony Towns og Felipe Lopez.