Basketball Champions League Americas
| Organising body | FIBA Americas |
|---|---|
| Founded | 24 September 2019 |
| First season | 2019–20 |
| Country | FIBA Americas member countries |
| Confederation | FIBA Americas |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Promotion to | Intercontinental Cup |
| Current champions | Flamengo (2nd title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Quimsa Flamengo (2 titles) |
| TV partners | YouTube (live games occasionally) |
| Website | BCLAmericas.basketball |
| 2024–25 Basketball Champions League Americas | |
The Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA) (Spanish: Liga de Campeones de Baloncesto de las Américas, Portuguese: Liga dos Campeões de Basquetebol das Américas) is Pan-America's premier men's basketball club competition. Founded in 2019, it replaced the FIBA Americas League as the highest level league in the Americas. The winner of each year's competition qualifies to the annual FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
Each season exists of 12 teams that qualify through their domestic leagues and the league is typically organized between December and April of the following calendar year.
Thus far the league has been won by four different teams. Argentine team Quimsa and Brazilian team Flamengo are the only teams to win the championship twice.
History
Background
The first panamerican tournament for men's clubs was held in 1993. The competition lasted until 2000 and in 2007 FIBA started a new league and not a tournament: the top South American teams would no longer play in the Liga Sudamericana.
Launch
On 24 September 2019, FIBA launched the Panamerican competition, which derives its name and branding from the European Basketball Champions League.[1] The competition replaced the FIBA Americas League as premier league in the Americas, President Horacio Muratore stated: "This is not a succession of Liga de las Américas, but rather a new product of our development project that will foster a balance between representation and quality".[2] The competition consisted of twelve teams, which had to qualify through their domestic leagues. The inaugural season started on October 28, 2019. On October 30, 2021, Quimsa won the inaugural championship after winning the final in Montevideo. Canadian clubs Edmonton Stingers and Brampton Honey Badgers are the only North American teams to participate in the competition so far.
Panamerican competitions (1993-present)
| Timespan | League | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-2000 | Campeonato Panamericano de Clubes de Básquetbol | |
| 2007-2019 | FIBA Americas League | |
| 2019–present | Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA) |
Format
As for the competition's format, the first phase of the BCLA will feature four groups of three teams each, with two qualifying teams per group that move on to the Quarter-Finals, which will be a best-of-three series. The Semi-Finals and the Final will also be decided in a best-of-three format.[1]
Clubs qualify for the competition mostly based on performance in their national leagues and cup competitions. Although exceptional, some teams can be wildcarded.
Results
List of seasons
| Edition | Year | Hosts | Champions | Score and Venue | Runners-up | Third place | Score and Venue | Fourth place | No. of teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019–20 | Montevideo |
Quimsa |
92–86[a] Antel Arena, Montevideo |
Flamengo |
San Lorenzo and Instituto | 12 | ||
| 2 | 2021 | Managua |
Flamengo |
84–80 Alexis Arguello Sports Complex, Managua |
Real Estelí |
Minas |
75–58 Alexis Arguello Sports Complex, Managua |
São Paulo | |
| 3 | 2021–22 | Rio de Janeiro |
São Paulo |
98–84 Carioca Arena 1, Rio de Janeiro |
Biguá |
123 Minas |
91–81 Carioca Arena 1, Rio de Janeiro |
Quimsa | |
| 4 | 2022–23 | Franca |
Sesi Franca |
88–79 Pedrocão, Franca |
Flamengo |
123 Minas |
94–81 Pedrocão, Franca |
Quimsa | |
| 5 | 2023–24 | Santiago del Estero | Quimsa |
92–80 Estadio Ciudad, Santiago del Estero |
Flamengo |
Halcones de Xalapa |
101–99 (OT) Estado Ciudad, Santiago del Estero |
Hebraica Macabi | |
| 6 | 2024–25 | Rio de Janeiro |
Flamengo |
83–57 Ginásio do Maracanãzinho, Rio de Janeiro |
Boca Juniors |
Sesi Franca |
74–59 Ginásio do Maracanãzinho, Rio de Janeiro |
Instituto | |
- ^ The 2020 final originally consisted of a best-of-three series, but it was changed to a single game in a neutral venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Performance
Medals
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| 2 | Argentina | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | Nicaragua | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Uruguay | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (5 entries) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | |
Performance by club
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flamengo | 2 | 3 | 2021, 2025 | 2020, 2023, 2024 |
| Quimsa | 2 | — | 2020, 2024 | — |
| São Paulo | 1 | — | 2022 | — |
| Franca | 1 | — | 2023 | — |
| Real Estelí | — | 1 | — | 2021 |
| Biguá | — | 1 | — | 2022 |
| Boca Juniors | — | 1 | — | 2025 |
Performance by country
| Country | Titles | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 4 | 3 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 | 2020, 2023, 2024 |
| Argentina | 2 | 1 | 2020, 2024 | 2025 |
| Nicaragua | — | 1 | — | 2021 |
| Uruguay | — | 1 | — | 2022 |
Performance by head coach
Only one head coach has appeared in multiple finals, as Gustavo de Conti of Flamengo coached in four.
| Head coach | Winner | Runner-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gustavo de Conti | 1
|
3
|
2021 | 2020, 2023, 2024 |
| Jorge Sebastián González | 1
|
—
|
2020 | —
|
| Bruno Mortari | 1
|
—
|
2022 | —
|
| Helinho | 1
|
—
|
2023 | —
|
| Leandro Ramella | 1
|
—
|
2024 | —
|
| Sergio Hernández | 1
|
—
|
2025 | —
|
| David Rosario | —
|
1
|
—
|
2021 |
| Diego Gutiérrez | —
|
1
|
—
|
2022 |
| Gonzalo Pérez | —
|
1
|
—
|
2025 |
All-time participants
The following is a list of clubs who have played in the Basketball Champions League Americas at any time since its formation in 2019 to the current season.
| 1st | Champions | |||||
| 2nd | Runners-up | |||||
| 3rd | Third place | |||||
| 4th | Fourth place | |||||
| SF | Semifinalists | |||||
| QF | Quarterfinalists | |||||
| RS | Regular season | |||||
| Q | Qualified for upcoming season | |||||
| Team | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | Total seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Juniors | — | — | QF | — | RS | 2nd | 3 |
| Instituto | SF | RS | — | RS | — | 4th | 4 |
| Obras Sanitarias | — | RS | RS | RS | QF | — | 4 |
| Quimsa | 1st | QF | 4th | 4th | 1st | QF | 6 |
| San Lorenzo | SF | QF | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Flamengo | 2nd | 1st | QF | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 6 |
| Franca | QF | QF | — | 1st | QF | 3rd | 5 |
| Minas | — | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | — | QF | 4 |
| Mogi das Cruzes | QF | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| São Paulo | — | 4th | 1st | — | RS | — | 3 |
| Brampton Honey Badgers | — | — | — | RS | — | — | 1 |
| Edmonton Stingers | — | — | RS | — | — | — | 1 |
| Colegio Los Leones de Quilpué | — | — | — | — | — | RS | 1 |
| CD Valdivia | RS | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Universidad de Concepción | — | RS | RS | QF | RS | — | 4 |
| Paisas Basketball | — | — | — | — | — | QF | 1 |
| Titanes de Barranquilla | — | RS | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Toros del Valle | — | — | — | — | — | RS | 1 |
| Capitanes | RS | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Halcones de Xalapa | — | — | — | — | 3rd | — | 1 |
| Fuerza Regia | QF | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Libertadores de Querétaro | — | — | — | QF | — | — | 1 |
| Real Estelí | QF | 2nd | QF | QF | QF | QF | 6 |
| Caballos de Coclé | — | QF | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Toros de Chiriquí | — | — | — | — | — | RS | 1 |
| Cangrejeros de Santurce | — | — | QF | — | — | — | 1 |
| Aguada | RS | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Biguá | RS | — | 2nd | RS | — | RS | 4 |
| Hebraica Macabi | — | — | — | — | 4th | — | 1 |
| Nacional | — | — | RS | – | QF | — | 2 |
| Peñarol | — | — | — | QF | — | — | 1 |
| Gladiadores de Anzoátegui | — | — | — | — | RS | — | 1 |
All-time table
- As of the end of the 2024–25 season.
| Rank | Club | SP | Pld | W | L | W | RU | SF | QF | RS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flamengo | 6 | 54 | 46 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Quimsa | 6 | 54 | 31 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Franca | 5 | 42 | 30 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Real Estelí | 6 | 49 | 27 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | Minas | 4 | 37 | 22 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | São Paulo | 3 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Boca Juniors | 3 | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Instituto | 4 | 31 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | San Lorenzo | 2 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Biguá | 4 | 25 | 8 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Halcones de Xalapa | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Obras Sanitarias | 4 | 24 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 | Libertadores de Querétaro | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Nacional | 2 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | Hebraica Macabi | 1 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Edmonton Stingers | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Caballos de Coclé | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | Paisas | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | Universidad de Concepción | 4 | 24 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 21 | Mogi das Cruzes | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Gladiadores de Anzoátegui | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | Titanes de Barranquilla | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 24 | Toros del Valle | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | Peñarol | 1 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Aguada | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Capitanes | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | Fuerza Regia | 1 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | CD Valdivia | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | Brampton Honey Badgers | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 31 | Colegio Los Leones de Quilpué | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 32 | Toros de Chiriquí | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Awards
Season MVP
| Season | Player | Nationality | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Robinson | United States | Quimsa |
| 2021 | Hettsheimeir | Brazil | Flamengo |
| 2021-22 | Caboclo | Brazil | São Paulo |
| 2022-23 | Mariano | Brazil | Franca |
| 2023-24 | Frank Hassell | United States | Hebraica Macabi |
| 2024-25 | Borges | Brazil | Flamengo |
Final MVP
| Season | Player | Nationality | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Robinson | United States | Quimsa |
| 2021 | Hettsheimeir | Brazil | Flamengo |
| 2022 | Caboclo | Brazil | São Paulo |
| 2023 | Mariano | Brazil | Franca |
| 2024 | Robinson (2) | United States | Quimsa |
| 2025 | Borges | Brazil | Flamengo |
Statistical leaders
Topscorer
| Season | Player | Nationality | Club | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Dwayne Davis | United States | Instituto ACC | 22.0 |
| 2021 | Jezreel De Jesús | Puerto Rico | Real Estelí | 20.1 |
| 2021-22 | Donald Sims | United States | Biguá | 24.8 |
| 2022-23 | Ismael Romero | Puerto Rico | Libertadores de Querétaro | 21.3 |
| 2023-24 | Andre Spight | United States | Obras | 18.2 |
| 2024-25 | Victor Luiz | Dominican Republic | Paisas de Medellin | 23.7 |
Rebounds
| Season | Player | Nationality | Club | RPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Alexandre De Sousa | Brazil | Mogi das Cruzes | 8.8 |
| 2021 | Ernesto Oglivie | Panama | Caballos de Coclé | 9.7 |
| 2021-22 | Ismael Romero | United States | Real Estelí | 11.1 |
| 2022-23 | Luis Santos | Dominican Republic | Biguá | 10.8 |
| 2023-24 | Eric Anderson | United States | Nacional | 10.0 |
| 2024-25 | Eloy Vargas | Dominican Republic | Paisas | 10.0 |
Assists
| Season | Player | Nationality | Club | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Franco Balbi | Argentina | Flamengo | 6.4 |
| 2021 | Fernando Zurbriggen | Argentina | Obras | 6.3 |
| 2021-22 | Santiago Vidal | Uruguay | Bigua | 9.0 |
| 2022-23 | Alexy Borges | Brazil | Minas Tenis | 6.4 |
| 2023-24 | Luciano Parodi | Uruguay | Hebraica Macabi | 6.7 |
| 2024-25 | Alexey Borges | Brazil | Flamengo | 8.0 |
Index rating
| Season | Player | Nationality | Club | RPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Danilo Fuzaro | Brazil | Mogi das Cruzes | 22.0 |
| 2021 | Fernando Zurbriggen | Argentina | Obras | 21.8 |
| 2021-22 | Bruno Caboclo | Brazil | São Paulo | 32.8 |
| 2022-23 | Luis Santos | Dominican Republic | Biguá | 25.5 |
| 2023-24 | Frank Hassell | United States | Hebraica Macabi | 22.6 |
| 2024-25 | Alexey Borges | Brazil | Flamengo | 21.6 |
Broadcasting rights
In selected South American countries, the tournament aired live on DSports. In Puerto Rico, available via WAPA-TV. In the United States, available via FanDuel TV. In Brazil, available via Globo's SporTV. For countries without broadcasting rights, BCLA also available via Basketball Champions League Americas YouTube channel.
See also
- FIBA Americas League
- Campeonato Panamericano de Clubes de Básquetbol
- Basketball Champions League
- FIBA Intercontinental Cup
References
- ^ a b "Basketball Champions League Americas is launched". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ "Basketball Champions League Americas is launched". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
This is not a succession of Liga de las Américas, but rather a new product of our development project that will foster a balance between representation and quality.
- ^ "BCL Americas Final will be held in Montevideo, Uruguay". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 14 October 2020.