Liège Basket Explained

Liège Basket
Color1:white
Color2:
  1. C00000
Color3:black
Leagues:BNXT League
Dissolved:2024
History:Fléron Basket Club
1967–2000
Liège Basket
2000–2024
Capacity:5,000
Location:Liège, Belgium
Colors:Black, White, Red
Sponsor:VOO
President:Ernie Cambo
Coach:Alex Zampier
Championships:1 Belgian Cup
2 Belgian Supercups
1 ENBL
Website:liegebasket.be
H Body:000030
H Pattern B:_redstripes2
H Shorts:000030
H Pattern S:_redbottom
A Body:FFD700
A Pattern B:_redshoulders
A Shorts:FFD700
Owner:Ernie Cambo

Liège Basket was a Belgian professional basketball club from Liège. The club competed in the BNXT League. Founded in 1967, the team played at 5,600 seat Country Hall Ethias Liège.[1]

The club was one of the traditional clubs in Belgian basketball, having played in the top flight division since 2001. Liège Basket's accolades include one Belgian Cup (in 2004) and two Belgian Supercups (in 2004 and 2009).

History

The club was founded in Fléron as the Fléron Basket Club in 1967. After being an amateur league for its first years, the team hired its first professional coach in 1975. In 1977 and 1981, the Fléron promoted to the first regional league. In 1983, the club made its debut on the national level as it promoted to the Fourth National Division. In 2000, the club decided to merge with BC Hannut and Essor Hannut, relocating to the city of Liège.

After the move to Lìege, the club quickly promoted to the First National League. In 2001, the club's debut in Europe was made after it qualified as 7th in the previous season. In the 2001–02 FIBA Korać Cup, the team lost to French side Racing Paris in the first round. Three years later, in 2004, the team wins its first silverware when it captures the Belgian Basketball Cup for the first time.

In the 2008–09 season, the team had its best European campaign when it reached the Top 16 of the 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge. In 2010, Liège played in the championship playoffs for the first time, but loses to Spirou Charleroi.

Since the 2021–22 season, Liège plays in the BNXT League, in which the national leagues of Belgium and the Netherlands have been merged.[2] After the 2020s were characterised mainly by financial problems for Liège, the club was purchased by an American investors group in 2022. The Mickael Sports Group, owned by Ernie Cambo, purchased all shares in the team.[3] Following the acquisition, head coach Lionel Bosco was sacked and replaced by Brad Greenberg.

On October 3, the club announced that they will be boycotting the away-game against Antwerp Giants on October 28 because of "partisan" refereeing in away-games, also saynig that "Belgian players get better calls then foreigners. The BNXT League responded by saying that if they actually pull through, Liège will be refused access to the playoffs on top of a €2500 fine. The League put the deadline for the decision on October 10. On October 9, they announced that the will play against the Antwerp Giants.

Honours and titles

Season by season

SeasonTierLeagueBelgian CupOther cupsEuropean competitions
bgcolor=efefef 2009–10 1 bgcolor=silver align=center2nd bgcolor=gold align=center
bgcolor=efefef 2010–11 1 8th
bgcolor=efefef 2011–12 1 8th
bgcolor=efefef 2012–13 1 7th Quarterfinalist
bgcolor=efefef 2013–14 1 5th Semifinalist
bgcolor=efefef 1 7th bgcolor=silver Runner-up
bgcolor=efefef 1 8th Round of 16
bgcolor=efefef 1 10thRound of 16
bgcolor=efefef 1 9thQuarterfinalist
2018–191BLB10thRound of 16
2019–201PBL10th
2020–211PBL9thPlay-in Round
2021–221BNXT17th

European record

SeasonTierCompetitionRoundClubHomeAway
First Round bgcolor=#fccbgcolor=#fcc
3 First Round ? ?
BC Kyiv? ?
Second Round ? ?
? ?
??
3First Qualifying Round bgcolor=#cfc97–64 bgcolor=#cfc67–55
Second Qualifying Round bgcolor=#cfc74–67 bgcolor=#cfc80-70
Regular Season Cajasol69–62 bgcolor=#cfc79–78
bgcolor=#cfc89–84 bgcolor=#cfc73–54
bgcolor=#cfc89–64 bgcolor=#cfc93–91
Top 16 bgcolor=#cfc81–68bgcolor=#fcc58–67
bgcolor=#fcc59–67bgcolor=#fcc 64–79
bgcolor=#fcc70–80 bgcolor=#cfc78–71

Players

Notable players

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: La Salle. 2009-10-09. fr.
  2. Web site: Licenties BNXT League 2021-2022 toegekend . Basketball League . 10 July 2021 . nl.
  3. Web site: Eerste Belgische basketbalclub in buitenlandse handen: Amerikaanse investeringsgroep neemt Luik Basket over . 2023-01-25 . Het Nieuwsblad . 13 December 2022 . nl-BE.