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Introduction to Season 9
The Basketball Champions League Board, meeting in Mies, Switzerland, has officially confirmed the teams for the 2024-25 season. A total of 28 clubs have been granted direct entry into the BCL Regular Season, while 24 others will vie for the final four spots through a series of Qualification Round tournaments.
Regular Season Lineup
The Regular Season will showcase a diverse array of teams, including 17 national league champions. Notable among them are Rytas Vilnius from Lithuania, Filou Oostende from Belgium, and Igokea m
from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The lineup also includes teams stretching from SL Benfica in Portugal to Sabah in Azerbaijan.
Teams Directly Qualified for the Regular Season:
- AEK betsson (Greece)
- BAXI Manresa (Spain)
- Bertram Derthona Tortona (Italy)
- And many others including teams from Turkey, Israel, France, and Germany.
Qualification Rounds
The Qualification Rounds will feature 24 clubs divided into four tournaments. Each tournament winner will secure a place in the Regular Season. This stage promises to be highly competitive, with clubs like BC Nokia from Finland and Cholet Basket from France participating.
Teams Competing in the Qualification Rounds:
- Aliaga Petkimspor (Turkey)
- BC Kutaisi 2010 (Georgia)
- Caledonia Gladiators (Great Britain)
- And other clubs from across Europe including teams from Sweden, Romania, and Italy.
Tournament Schedule and Key Dates
The Qualification Rounds are set for mid-September, and the Regular Season is scheduled to commence on October 1, 2024. The draw ceremony for grouping the teams will be held at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball on June 26, and fans can watch the event live on the BCL YouTube channel.
Defending Champions and Notable Participants
Unicaja, the reigning champions and leaders of the Spanish Liga Endesa, are set to return. Other notable teams include La Laguna Tenerife and UCAM Murcia, both finalists from last season. New entrants like NINERS Chemnitz from Germany, recent FIBA Europe Cup winners, will also join the fray.
Historical Participation
Turkiye remains the most represented nation, with Manisa BB becoming the twelfth Turkish club to participate. France and Greece are also well represented, contributing multiple teams over the seasons.
Overview of the Basketball Champions League
The Basketball Champions League stands as a testament to competitive fairness, organized by FIBAClubCo in partnership with 11 leading European leagues. This structure ensures that teams qualify based on their performance in their respective national leagues, emphasizing sporting merit and integrity in European basketball.
