Latvian–Estonian Basketball League

The Latvian-Estonian Basketball League, known as Paf Latvian-Estonian Basketball League for sponsorship reasons, is the top-tier men's basketball league in Latvia and Estonia. The competition was introduced in 2018 and is organised by the Latvian Basketball Association and the Estonian Basketball Association.

Paf Latvian-Estonian Basketball League
Founded2018 (2018)
First season2018–19
CountriesEstonia Estonia (8 teams)
Latvia Latvia (7 teams)
Other club(s) fromUkraine Ukraine (1 team)
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams16
Current championsUkraine BC Prometey
(1st title)
Most championshipsEstonia BC Kalev/Cramo
Ukraine BC Prometey
Latvia BK Ventspils
Latvia VEF Rīga
(1 title)
TV partnersDelfi TV, Inspira, LTV7, TV4
Websiteestlatbl.com
2023–24 season

History

The league was established in 2018 when the Latvijas Basketbola līga (LBL) and the Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML) merged. In its inaugural season, 15 teams participated in the league.[1] After a Final Four is played to determine the winner of the league, there are playoffs to decide the national champions of Latvia and Estonia. The first game was played on 28 September 2018, with Estonian champions BC Kalev/Cramo hosting a game against the Latvian champions BK Ventspils. On 9 April 2019, BK Ventspils won the first league championship.[2] On 19 November 2021, representatives of the Latvian Basketball Association and the Estonian Basketball Association agreed to continue the development of a joint league for the next three years. Both parties acknowledged that the league promotes the development of players and coaches, attracts basketball fans and inspires young people to focus on basketball.[3]

In June 2022, Ukrainian club BC Prometey joined the league as the Ukrainian SuperLeague was suspended due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The team plays its home games in Riga.[4]

Title sponsorships

Since inaugural season, the League has had title sponsorship rights sold to two companies, most recently to the Paf betting company.

Period Sponsor Name
2018–2019Olympic Entertainment GroupOlyBet Latvian-Estonian Basketball League
2019–presentPafPaf Latvian-Estonian Basketball League

Competition format

The competition follows a double round-robin format. During the course of a season each club plays each other club twice (once at home and once away). Teams' rankings at season end are determined by winning percentage. At season end, the eight top teams play-off, pitting the first place standings team against the 8th place team, and so on. The play-off format initially was supposed to be Quarterfinals and Final Four, but since the inaugural season it has changed every season.

Home Grown Player Rule

A foreign player (not Latvian or Estonian) who has been registered and played in the Latvian National Championship or the Estonian National Championship for three consecutive seasons between the ages of 12 and 19 is considered to be a local player.[5]

Current teams
Location of teams in 2023–24 Latvian–Estonian Basketball League
Team Home city Arena Capacity
Estonia AVIS UTILITAS Rapla Rapla Sadolin Sports Hall 958[6]
Estonia BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn Tondiraba Sports Center 7,700[7]
Kalev Sports Hall 1,700[8]
Ukraine BC Prometey Riga Arena Riga 11,200
Rimi Olympic Sports Center 830
Latvia BK Liepāja Liepāja Liepāja Olympic Center 2,542
Latvia BK Ogre Ogre Ogre State Gymnasium
Latvia BK Ventspils Ventspils Ventspils Olympic Center 3,085
Estonia Keila Coolbet Keila Keila Health Center 800[9]
Latvia Latvijas Universitāte Riga Rimi Olympic Sports Center 830
Estonia Pärnu Sadam Pärnu Pärnu Sports Hall 1,820[10]
Latvia Rīgas Zeļļi Riga Arena Riga 11,200
Daugava Sports Hall
Estonia Tallinn Kalev Tallinn TalTech Sports Hall 1,000[11]
Nord Cramo Sports Hall 980[12]
Estonia TalTech/OPTIBET TalTech Sports Hall 1,000[11]
Estonia Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits Tartu University of Tartu Sports Hall 2,600[13]
Latvia Valmiera GLASS VIA Valmiera Vidzeme Olympic Center 1,500
Latvia VEF Rīga Riga Rimi Olympic Sports Center 830
Estonia Viimsi Haabneeme Forus Sports Center 500[14]

Results
Season Final Third and fourth place
Winners Score Second place Third place Score Fourth place
2018–19
Details		 Latvia
BK Ventspils		 102–80 Latvia
VEF Rīga		 Estonia
BC Kalev/Cramo		 87–85 Latvia
BK Ogre
2019–20
Details		 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21
Details		 Estonia
BC Kalev/Cramo		 86–75 Latvia
VEF Rīga		 Latvia
BK Ogre		 75–73 Estonia
AVIS UTILITAS Rapla
2021–22
Details		 Latvia
VEF Rīga		 95–64 Estonia
KK Viimsi/Sportland		 Estonia
Pärnu Sadam		 84–77 Latvia
BK Ogre
2022–23
Details		 Ukraine
BC Prometey		 77–62 Latvia
VEF Rīga		 Estonia
Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits		 63–60 Estonia
BC Kalev/Cramo

Performance by club
Club Winners Runners-up Years won Years runner-up
Latvia VEF Rīga 1 3 2022 2019, 2021, 2023
Latvia BK Ventspils 1 0 2019 –
Estonia BC Kalev/Cramo 1 0 2021 –
Ukraine BC Prometey 1 0 2023 –
Estonia Viimsi 0 1 – 2022

See also

References
  1. "News – 15 teams participating in OlyBet Latvian-Estonian Basketball League". www.estlatbl.com. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. "News – Ventspils won the first ever OlyBet Latvian-Estonian basketball league trophy (Lomažs was named MVP)". www.estlatbl.com. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  3. "Tweet from official League account". www.twitter.com. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. "Ukrainian club Prometey to play in a Latvian-Estonian League". basketnews.com. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  5. "Latvian-Estonian Basketball League Regulations" (PDF). www.basket.lv. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. "Sadolin Spordihoone". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  7. "Tondiraba Jäähall". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. "Kalevi Spordihall". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  9. "Keila Tervisekeskus". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  10. "Pärnu Spordihall". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  11. "Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli spordihoone". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  12. "Nord Cramo spordihoone". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  13. "Tartu Ülikooli Spordihoone". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  14. "FORUS Spordikeskus Viimsi". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 31 August 2023.
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