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.

Teams

Current teams

''Teams participating in the 2021-22 season''

* Cañeros del Este
* Huracanes del Atlántico
* Indios de San Francisco de Macorís
* Leones de Santo Domingo
* Metros de Santiago
* Reales de La Vega
* Soles de Santo Domingo Este
* Titanes del Licey

Format

Regular season

In the first season in 2005, all 8 teams competed in a round-robin tournament, where each team had to play against every other team. In 2006 two conferences were introduced: the ''Circuito Norte'' (North) and ''Circuito Sur'' (South), of 4 teams each. In 2010, with the league changing name to Liga Nacional de Baloncesto, the ''Sur'' conference was renamed ''Sureste'' (Southeast). In 2018, with the folding of Huracanes del Atlántico, the North conference included only 3 teams. In 2019 the team number was reduced to 6, and the league reintroduced the round-robin tournament, eliminating the conference system.

Playoffs

In 2005, the first 4 teams at the end of the regular season qualified for the playoffs. With the introduction of two conferences (''Circuitos'') in 2006, the first 3 teams of each conference qualified for the playoffs. In 2011 this was changed, as only the first 2 teams qualified for the playoffs, thus eliminating the first round of the playoffs. The first two teams of each conference faced each other in the playoffs semifinals, and the championship game was played between the winners of the semifinal series. In 2016, the first 3 teams of each conference qualified for a further postseason round robin tournament, the winners of which qualified for the championship game. This was eliminated in 2018, with the folding of Huracanes del Atlántico, and the league resumed the original playoff format, reintroducing the semifinals.

List of champions

Championships

Awards

Most Valuable Player

Finals MVP

Statistical leaders

Scoring

Rebounds

Assists

Steals

Blocks

Individual records

Game

* Most points in a game
:*54 by Adris De León, Metros de Santiago (vs. Huracanes del Atlántico) on August 11, 2016
* Most rebounds in a game
:*27 by Jack Michael Martínez, Cocolos de San Pedro de Macorís (vs. Cañeros de La Romana) on August 31, 2007
* Most assists in a game
:*15 by Richard Ortega, Indios de San Francisco de Macorís (vs. Cañeros de La Romana) on August 5, 2008
:*15 by Juan Coronado, Reales de La Vega (vs. Indios de San Francisco de Macorís) on July 9, 2017
* Most blocks in a game
:*11 by Scott VanderMeer, Leones de Santo Domingo (vs. Titanes del Distrito Nacional) on July 15, 2011
* Most 3-point field goals made in a game
:*11 by Courtney Nelson, Huracanes del Atlántico (vs. Metros de Santiago) on September 3, 2011 (11/20)
:*11 by Adris De León, Metros de Santiago (vs. Huracanes del Atlántico) on August 11, 2016 (11/23)

Season

* Most points in a season
:*523 by Gerardo Suero, Indios de San Francisco de Macorís in 2017
* Most rebounds in a season
:*261 by Alexis Montas, Cañeros del Este in 2011
* Most assists in a season
:*159 by Richard Ortega, Indios de San Francisco de Macorís in 2008
* Most steals in a season
:*67 by Carlos Wheeler, Panteras del Distrito Nacional in 2005
* Most blocks in a season
:*76 by Edward Santana, Cañeros de La Romana in 2005

References

External links

Official website

Dominican league on Latinbasket.com


@LNBrd

{{Men's professional basketball leagues

Basketball in the Dominican Republic
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