BBL Cup
Encyclopedia
The BBL Cup is one of two peripheral competitions operated by the British Basketball League
during the regular season, the other being the BBL Trophy
. It is a pure knockout competition between the BBL clubs, meaning there is no space for mistakes if you desire to become Cup winners.
With the withdrawal of Worthing Thunder and Essex Pirates for the beginning of the 2011/2012 season (The teams finishing as the bottom two winning just 5 and 1 of their 33 games respectively) their places in the draw have been taken up by newcomers Durham Wildcats, and SBL side Edinburgh Kings (as the pirates were due to play Glasgow Rocks)
The tournament emerged from the National Cup and was contested for the first time in 2003-04, when the Sheffield Sharks
were the inaugural winners. The two sides that prevail through the competition face off at Birmingham
’s National Indoor Arena
in January, for a one-off, do-or-die battle for this prestigious piece of silverware.
Newcastle Eagles
landed the title in the 2005/2006 season for the first time in their history, beating the London Towers
83-69 in the final. Veteran point guard TJ Walker
was the MVP with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists.
Guildford Heat
were victorious in the 2007 BBL Cup Final when they overcame Scottish Rocks
81-78, winning their first ever piece of silverware. Heat player Brian Dux
won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award courtesy of his 21-point, 6-rebound, 4 assist haul.
The 2008 Final, on paper, was one of the closest match-ups immaginable, with Newcastle facing-off against Milton Keynes Lions
in their first ever appearance in the Cup Final. In the league standings, first-placed Eagles and second-placed Lions couldn't be separated, but the game itself was severely leaning in Lions favour and near the end of the third-quarter they lead the Eagles by as much as 57-41. A final resurgence from the Eagles brought the scores back to as close as 67-66 with a minute left, but the Lions eventually clawed their way to a 69-66 victory.
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....
during the regular season, the other being the BBL Trophy
BBL Trophy
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...
. It is a pure knockout competition between the BBL clubs, meaning there is no space for mistakes if you desire to become Cup winners.
With the withdrawal of Worthing Thunder and Essex Pirates for the beginning of the 2011/2012 season (The teams finishing as the bottom two winning just 5 and 1 of their 33 games respectively) their places in the draw have been taken up by newcomers Durham Wildcats, and SBL side Edinburgh Kings (as the pirates were due to play Glasgow Rocks)
The tournament emerged from the National Cup and was contested for the first time in 2003-04, when the Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
were the inaugural winners. The two sides that prevail through the competition face off at Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
’s National Indoor Arena
National Indoor Arena
The National Indoor Arena is a large indoor arena and is owned by the NEC Group. It is situated in central Birmingham, England and was opened in 1991, as the largest indoor arena at the time in the UK...
in January, for a one-off, do-or-die battle for this prestigious piece of silverware.
Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city...
landed the title in the 2005/2006 season for the first time in their history, beating the London Towers
London Towers
London Towers was a professional basketball team based in London, England. They were one of the most successful and recognised British sports teams of the 1990s, collecting many titles in the British Basketball League as well as regularly competing in European competitions such as the Euroleague...
83-69 in the final. Veteran point guard TJ Walker
Tirame Jerome Walker
Tiran Jerome Walker is an American professional basketball player, most recently playing for the Cheshire Jets in the British Basketball League, where he also occupied the role of head coach....
was the MVP with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists.
Guildford Heat
Guildford Heat
Guildford Heat is a basketball club based in Guildford, England that currently play in the British Basketball League. Heat play their home games at the brand-new Surrey Sports Park and was formed in 2005 by fans of former BBL franchise Thames Valley Tigers, who folded during the same year...
were victorious in the 2007 BBL Cup Final when they overcame Scottish Rocks
Scottish Rocks
The Glasgow Rocks is a basketball team which competes in the British Basketball League. Formerly known as Scottish Rocks and also Edinburgh Rocks, they are one of the leading franchises in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Kelvin Hall...
81-78, winning their first ever piece of silverware. Heat player Brian Dux
Brian Dux
Brian Dux Brian Dux Brian Dux (born April 7, 1981 in Orchard Park, New York, is an American professional basketball player, and currently plays for the Guildford Heat in the British Basketball League.- College career :...
won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award courtesy of his 21-point, 6-rebound, 4 assist haul.
The 2008 Final, on paper, was one of the closest match-ups immaginable, with Newcastle facing-off against Milton Keynes Lions
Milton Keynes Lions
The Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions due to sponsorship, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL...
in their first ever appearance in the Cup Final. In the league standings, first-placed Eagles and second-placed Lions couldn't be separated, but the game itself was severely leaning in Lions favour and near the end of the third-quarter they lead the Eagles by as much as 57-41. A final resurgence from the Eagles brought the scores back to as close as 67-66 with a minute left, but the Lions eventually clawed their way to a 69-66 victory.
Previous winners
- 2003/04: Sheffield SharksSheffield SharksSheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
- 2004/05: Brighton BearsBrighton BearsBrighton Bears was a British basketball team based in Brighton, Sussex. From 1984 to 1999 the club was known as the Worthing Bears and was based in the town of Worthing, 12 miles west of Brighton. The Bears played in the top-flight British Basketball League until 2006 when the franchise folded...
- 2005/06: Newcastle EaglesNewcastle EaglesNewcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city...
- 2006/07: Guildford HeatGuildford HeatGuildford Heat is a basketball club based in Guildford, England that currently play in the British Basketball League. Heat play their home games at the brand-new Surrey Sports Park and was formed in 2005 by fans of former BBL franchise Thames Valley Tigers, who folded during the same year...
- 2007/08: Milton Keynes LionsMilton Keynes LionsThe Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions due to sponsorship, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL...
- 2008/09: Everton Tigers
- 2009/10: Sheffield SharksSheffield SharksSheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
- 2010/11: Sheffield SharksSheffield SharksSheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
Basement Basketball Note
This article is for the British Basketball League, not the Basement Basketball League. The Basement Basketball League awards the BBL Championship Trophy.See also
- Basketball in EnglandBasketball in EnglandBasketball, although invented in the United States, has a very long history in England, having been introduced there by the YMCA almost immediately after it was created. World War I and II further spurred its popularity. The four highest profile team sports in the United Kingdom are football,...
- 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 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...
- 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 TrophyBBL TrophyThe 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...