1997 Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol

Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol
Season1997
Dates18 February – 9 May 1997
Teams15
Finals
Champions Atenas
Runners-up Corinthians
Semifinalists Olimpia
Cougar Franca
1996
1998

The 1997 Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol, or 1997 FIBA South American League, was the second edition of the second-tier tournament for professional basketball clubs from South America. The tournament began on 18 February 1997 and finished on 9 May 1997. Argentine club Atenas won the tournament, defeating Brazilian club Corinthians in the Grand Finals.[1][2]

Format

Teams were split into three groups of four teams each and one group of three teams, and played each other in a home-and-away round-robin format. The top two teams from each group advanced to the final stage, a best-of-three direct playoff elimination where the champion was decided.

Teams

Country Team
 Argentina Andino Sport Club
Atenas
Olimpia
 Bolivia Ingavi de La Paz
 Brazil Corinthians
Cougar Franca
Corinthians de Santa Cruz do Sul
 Chile Español de Talca
Deportivo Petrox
 Colombia Paisas de Medellín
Piratas de Bogotá
 Paraguay Sol de América
 Peru Deportivo SIPESA
Regatas Lima
 Venezuela Gaiteros del Zulia

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W L Pts Qualification OLI PET SOL ING
1 Olimpia 6 6 0 12 Advances to final stage 109–88 105–86 151–88
2 Deportivo Petrox 6 3 3 9 83–97 92–99 127–89
3 Sol de América 6 2 4 8 94–102 87–105 101–90
4 Ingavi de La Paz 6 1 5 7 101–114 91–106 120–113
Source: FIBA Archive

Group B

Pos Team Pld W L Pts Qualification FRA PAI GAI
1 Cougar Franca 4 4 0 8 Advances to final stage 118–83 w/o
2 Paisas de Medellín 4 1 3 5 78–108 w/o
3 Gaiteros del Zulia[a] 4 1 3 5 76–86 92–78
Source: FIBA Archive
Notes:
  1. ^ Gaiteros withdrew from the tournament after playing two matches.[3]

Group C

Pos Team Pld W L Pts Qualification COR AND REG ESP
1 Corinthians 6 4 2 10 Advances to final stage 99–92 106–84 123–122
2 Sport Club Andino 6 4 2 10 87–81 94–69 110–81
3 Regatas Lima 6 3 3 9 81–74 62–96 97–73
4 Español de Talca 6 1 5 7 80–81 103–94 54–56
Source: FIBA Archive

Group D

Pos Team Pld W L Pts Qualification ATE PIR COS SIP
1 Atenas 7 6 1 13 Advances to final stage 103–84 98–82 105–46
2 Piratas de Bogotá 6 4 2 10 57–77 87–79 85–77
3 Corinthians de Santa Cruz do Sul 6 2 4 8 91–103 w/o 104–77
4 Deportivo SIPESA 6 0 6 6 72–86 65–96 86–96
Source: FIBA Archive

Final stage

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsGrand Finals
 
          
 
 
 
 
Atenas 2
 
 
 
Paisas de Medellín 0
 
Atenas 2
 
 
 
Olimpia 1
 
Olimpia 2
 
 
 
Sport Club Andino 1
 
Atenas 2
 
 
 
Corinthians 1
 
Corinthians 2
 
 
 
Deportivo Petrox 0
 
Corinthians 2
 
 
 
Cougar Franca 0
 
Cougar Franca 2
 
 
Piratas de Bogotá 1
 

Finals series

The matches were played on 1, 8 and 9 May 1997.

  • Corinthians - Atenas 85-82
  • Atenas - Corinthians 97-98
  • Corinthians - Atenas 80-98

Finals rosters

Atenas Cordoba: Marcelo Milanesio, Greg Dennis, Thomas Jordan, Fabricio Oberto, Diego Osella - Héctor Campana, Leandro Palladino. Coach: Rubén Magnano

Corinthians: Luiz Augusto Zanon, Robyn Davis, Oscar Schmidt, Brasilia, Caio Silveira. Coach: Zé Boquinha

Season MVP

Greg Dennis

References