2017–18 Pro Basketball League
{{Infobox basketball league season
| updated =
| prevseason = 2016–17
| nextseason = 2018–19
| title = Pro Basketball League
| extra information =
| image =
| caption =
| season = 2017–18
| champions = Oostende (19th title)
| runners_up = Telenet Giants Antwerp
| semifinalists = Proximus Spirou
Okapi Aalstar
| promoted =
| relegated =
| continentalcup1 =
| continentalcup1 qualifiers=
| continentalcup2 =
| continentalcup2 qualifiers=
| continentalcup3 =
| continentalcup3 qualifiers=
| continentalcup4 =
| continentalcup4 qualifiers=
| teams = 10
| games =
| dates = 23 September 2017 – 13 June 2018
| top_seed =
| TV =
| MVP =Jean Salumu | MVP_link = Basketball League Belgium Division I MVP | MVP_n =
| finals_MVP = Tonye Jekiri | finals_MVP_link =Pro Basketball League Finals MVP | finals_MVP_n =
| playoffs_MVP = | playoffs_MVP_link = | playoffs_MVP_n =
| final_four_MVP = | final_four_MVP_link = | final_four_MVP_n =
| grand_final_MVP = | grand_final_MVP_link = | grand_final_MVP_n =
| award4 = | award4_winner = | award4_link = | award4_n =
| award5 = | award5_winner = | award5_link = | award5_n =
| award6 = | award6_winner = | award6_link = | award6_n =
| award7 = | award7_winner = | award7_link = | award7_n =
| award8 = | award8_winner = | award8_link = | award8_n =
| award9 = | award9_winner = | award9_link = | award9_n =
| PIR_leader =Seth Tuttle | pir =17.3 | pir_n =
| top_scorer =Miloš Bojović | ppg = 18.3 | ppg_n =
| rebounds_leader =Tonye Jekiri | rpg = 7.3| rpg_n =
| assists_leader =Joe Rahon | apg = 5.6| apg_n =
| biggest_home_win =
| biggest_away_win =
| highest_scoring =
| winning_streak =
| losing_streak =
| highest_attendance =
| lowest_attendance =
| attendance =
| average_attendance =
}}
The 2017–18 Pro Basketball League, for sponsorship reasons the EuroMillions Basketball League, was the 91st season of the Belgian Basketball League, first tier of basketball in Belgium. The defending champion was Oostende. The season started on 23 September 2017 and ended 14 June 2018.
Teams
Antwerp Giants changed its name to Telenet Giants Antwerp, following a sponsorship agreement with Telenet.[http://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20170606_02913659/telenet-komende-drie-jaar-hoofdsponsor-van-antwerp-giants Telenet komende drie jaar hoofdsponsor van Antwerp Giants] Meanwhile, Telenet left Oostende which meant the sponsored club name disappeared after seven years.
=Arenas and locations=
{{location map+|Belgium|float=right|width=400|caption=Location of the 2017–18 Belgian Basketball League teams|places=
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.4 |long=4.433333 |label=Spirou}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.633333 |long=5.566667 |label=Liège |position=left}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.883333 |long=4.7 |label=Leuven}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=51.233333 |long=2.916667 |label=Oostende |position=left}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=51.216667 |long=4.4 |label=Giants}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.933333 |long=4.033333 |position=top|label=Okapi}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=51.066667 |long=4.366667 |label=Willebroek}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.45 |long=3.95 |label=Mons}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.93 |long=5.3375 |label=Limburg|position=top}}
{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.892555 |long=4.376821 |label=Brussels|position=bottom}}
}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Club
! City ! Arena ! Capacity |
|---|
| Basic-Fit Brussels
| Brussels | Piscine de Neder-Over-Hembeek | align=center | {{Nts|1200}} |
| Belfius Mons-Hainaut
| Mons | align=center | {{nts|4000}} |
| VOO Liège{{efn|Liège Basket started the season as "BetFirst Liège Basket", however it changed its name into "VOO Liège Basket" in February 2018.}}
| Liège | align=center | {{Nts|5000}} |
| Crelan Okapi Aalstar
| Aalst | Okapi Forum | align=center | {{Nts|2800}} |
| Hubo Limburg United
| Hasselt | Alverberg Sporthal | {{center| {{Nts|1730}}}} |
| Kangoeroes Willebroek
| Sporthal de Schalk | align=center | {{Nts|1000}} |
| Oostende
| Ostend | align=center | {{nts|5000}} |
| Proximus Spirou
| align=center | {{Nts|6200}} |
| Stella Artois Leuven Bears
| Leuven | Sportoase | align=center | {{Nts|3400}} |
| Telenet Giants Antwerp
| Antwerp | align=center | {{Nts|5218}} |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=Personnel and kits=
{{Basketball roster nationality note}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;" |
| Team
! Manager ! Kit manufacturer ! Shirt sponsor |
|---|
| Basic-Fit Brussels
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Serge Crèvecoeur | Spalding | Basic-Fit Fitness |
| Belfius Mons-Hainaut
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Daniel Goethals | Jako | Belfius |
| VOO Liège
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Laurent Constantiello | Jako | BetFirst |
| Crelan Okapi Aalstar
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Jean-Marc Jaumin | Jartazi | Crelan |
| Hubo Limburg United
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ronnie McCollum | K1X | Hubo |
| Kangoeroes Willebroek
| {{flagicon|CRO}} Damir Milačić | Jako | |
| Oostende
| {{flagicon|CRO}} Dario Gjergja | Spalding | |
| Proximus Spirou
| {{flagicon|USA}} Brian Lynch | Spalding | Proximus |
| Stella Artois Leuven Bears
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Ferried Naciri | |
| Telenet Giants Antwerp
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Roel Moors | Spalding | Telenet |
=Managerial changes=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Team
! Outgoing manager ! Manner of departure ! Date of vacancy ! Position in table ! Replaced by ! Date of appointment |
|---|
| Hubo Limburg United
| {{flagicon|USA}} Brian Lynch | Signed with Proximus Spirou | 31 June 2017[http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20170407_02822363 Brian Lynch vertrekt bij Limburg United en wordt coach van Charleroi] | rowspan=2 | Pre-season | {{flagicon|USA}} Ronnie McCollum |
| Proximus Spirou
| {{Flagicon|BEL}} Fluvio Bastianini | Mutual consent | {{flagicon|USA}} Brian Lynch |
| Hubo Limburg United
| {{flagicon|USA}} Ronnie McCollum | Fired | 8th (2–6) | {{flagicon|BEL}} Pascal Angillis |
Regular season
In the regular season, teams play against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The eight highest placed teams advance to the playoffs. The first games are played on 23 September 2017 and the regular season finishes on 20 May 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://kw.knack.be/west-vlaanderen/sport/basketbal/kalender-bekend-bc-oostende-speelt-twee-keer-thuis-in-kerstperiode-2017/article-normal-267963.html|title=Kalender bekend: BC Oostende speelt twee keer thuis in kerstperiode 2017|date=2017-06-29|publisher=Knack.be}}
=Standings=
|show_limit=5
|update=complete
|source=[http://euromillionsbasketball.be/gamecenter EuroMillions League]
|for_against_style=points |winpoints=2|losspoints=1
|team1 =OOS|win_OOS=29|loss_OOS=7 |gf_OOS=2969|ga_OOS=2470
|team2 =ANT|win_ANT=27|loss_ANT=9 |gf_ANT=2911|ga_ANT=2618
|team3 =SPI|win_SPI=25|loss_SPI=11|gf_SPI=2954|ga_SPI=2783
|team4 =OKA|win_OKA=23|loss_OKA=13|gf_OKA=2898|ga_OKA=2708
|team5 =MON|win_MON=20|loss_MON=16|gf_MON=2870|ga_MON=2886
|team6 =LIM|win_LIM=16|loss_LIM=20|gf_LIM=2889|ga_LIM=2903
|team7 =WIL|win_WIL=13|loss_WIL=23|gf_WIL=2826|ga_WIL=3111
|team8 =BRU|win_BRU=12|loss_BRU=24|gf_BRU=2637|ga_BRU=2812
|team9 =LIE|win_LIE=8 |loss_LIE=28|gf_LIE=2970|ga_LIE=3217
|team10=LEU|win_LEU=7 |loss_LEU=29|gf_LEU=2628|ga_LEU=3044
|result1=PO |result2=PO |result3=PO |result4=PO |result5=PO |result6=PO |result7=PO |result8=PO
|res_col_header=QR
|col_PO=green1 |text_PO=Qualification for playoffs
|name_OOS=Oostende
|name_WIL=Kangoeroes Willebroek
|name_ANT=Telenet Giants Antwerp
|name_SPI=Proximus Spirou
|name_BRU=Basic-Fit Brussels
|name_LEU=Stella Artois Leuven Bears
|name_MON=Belfius Mons-Hainaut
|name_OKA=Crelan Okapi Aalstar
|name_LIE=VOO Liège
|name_LIM=Hubo Limburg United
}}
Playoffs
The playoffs start on 26 May and end on 13, 15 or 17 June 2017. The winner of the playoffs is crowned Belgian national champion. In the quarterfinals and semifinals a best-of-three format is used, while the finals are played in a best-of-five format. The higher seeded team had home advantage and played games one, three and five (if possible) at home. Small bold numbers indicate team seeding.
=Bracket=
{{#invoke:RoundN|main|columns=3|3rdplace=no|nowrap=yes
|RD1=Quarterfinals|RD2=Semifinals|RD3=Finals
|score-width=25|team-width=200
||{{RDseed|1}}Oostende|2|{{RDseed|8}}Basic-Fit Brussels|0
||{{RDseed|4}}Okapi Aalstar|2|{{RDseed|5}}Belfius Mons-Hainaut|1
||{{RDseed|2}}Telenet Giants Antwerp|2|{{RDseed|7}}Kangoeroes Willebroek|0
||{{RDseed|3}}Proximus Spirou|2|{{RDseed|6}}Hubo Limburg United|0
|| {{RDseed|1}}Oostende|2|{{RDseed|4}}Okapi Aalstar|0
|| {{RDseed|2}}Telenet Giants Antwerp|2|{{RDseed|3}}Proximus Spirou|0
|| {{RDseed|1}} Oostende|3|{{RDseed|2}} Telenet Giants Antwerp|0
}}
=Quarterfinals=
{{ThreeLegStart}}
{{ThreeLegResult|Oostende||2–0|Basic-Fit Brussels||103–62|84–63|}}
{{ThreeLegResult|Okapi Aalstar||2–1|Belfius Mons-Hainaut||79–81|82–80|81–71}}
{{ThreeLegResult|Telenet Giants Antwerp||2–0|Kangoeroes Willebroek||76–62|95–65|}}
{{ThreeLegResult|Proximus Spirou||2–0|Hubo Limburg United||89–62|80–73|}}
|}
=Semifinals=
{{ThreeLegStart}}
{{ThreeLegResult|Oostende||2–0|Okapi Aalstar||82–60|80–64|}}
{{ThreeLegResult|Telenet Giants Antwerp||2–0|Proximus Spirou||90–80|83–82|}}
|}
=Finals=
{{ThreeLegStart|legs=5}}
{{ThreeLegResult|Oostende||3–0|Telenet Giants Antwerp||75–67|74–66|78–67||}}
|}
Final standings
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WL
|show_limit=5
|update=complete
|source=[http://euromillionsbasketball.be/gamecenter EuroMillions League]
|for_against_style=none |winpoints=2|losspoints=1|ranking_style=none
|team1 =OOS|win_OOS=36|loss_OOS=7 |gf_OOS=2969|ga_OOS=2470|status_OOS=C
|team2 =ANT|win_ANT=31|loss_ANT=12 |gf_ANT=2911|ga_ANT=2618
|team3 =SPI|win_SPI=27|loss_SPI=13|gf_SPI=2954|ga_SPI=2783
|team4 =OKA|win_OKA=25|loss_OKA=16|gf_OKA=2898|ga_OKA=2708
|team5 =MON|win_MON=21|loss_MON=18|gf_MON=2870|ga_MON=2886
|team6 =LIM|win_LIM=16|loss_LIM=22|gf_LIM=2889|ga_LIM=2903
|team7 =WIL|win_WIL=13|loss_WIL=25|gf_WIL=2826|ga_WIL=3111
|team8 =BRU|win_BRU=12|loss_BRU=26|gf_BRU=2637|ga_BRU=2812
|team9 =LIE|win_LIE=8 |loss_LIE=28|gf_LIE=2970|ga_LIE=3217
|team10=LEU|win_LEU=7 |loss_LEU=29|gf_LEU=2628|ga_LEU=3044
|split8=yes
|result1=CL|result2=CLQ|result3=CLQ|result5=FEC
|res_col_header=QR
|col_CL=green1 |text_CL=Qualification for Champions League regular season
|col_CLQ=green2 |text_CLQ=Qualification for Champions League first qualifying round
|col_FEC=blue1|text_FEC=Qualification for FIBA Europe Cup
|status_text_W=Belgian Basketball Cup winner
|name_OOS=Oostende
|name_WIL=Kangoeroes Willebroek
|name_ANT=Telenet Giants Antwerp
|name_SPI=Proximus Spirou
|name_BRU=Basic-Fit Brussels
|name_LEU=Stella Artois Leuven Bears
|name_MON=Belfius Mons-Hainaut
|name_OKA=Crelan Okapi Aalstar
|name_LIE=VOO Liège
|name_LIM=Hubo Limburg United
}}
Awards
=Individual honours=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Award
! Player ! Club ! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | {{flagicon|BEL}} Jean Salumu | Oostende | rowspan=4 | {{center|{{Cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/sport/meer-sport/salumu-oostende-verkozen-tot-mvp-akyazili-antwerp-belofte-van-het-jaar~afbac7c8/|title=Salumu (Oostende) verkozen tot MVP, Akyazili (Antwerp) belofte van het jaar|date=22 May 2018|language=nl|access-date=29 May 2018|publisher=HLN.be}}}} |
| Belgian Player of the Year | {{flagicon|BEL}} Jean Salumu | Oostende | |
| Most Promising Player | {{flagicon|BEL}} Thomas Akyazili | Telenet Giants Antwerp | |
| Coach of the Year | {{flagicon|CRO}} Dario Gjergja | Oostende |
=All-League Teams=
| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 | All-Offensive Team | colspan=2 | All-Defensive Team | ||
| {{flagicon|SRB}} Dušan Đorđević | Oostende | {{flagicon|USA}} Paris Lee | Telenet Giants Antwerp |
| {{flagicon|USA}} Garlon Green | Belfius Mons-Hainaut | {{flagicon|USA}} Bill Amis | Okapi Aalstar |
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Jean Salumu | Oostende | {{flagicon|BEL}} Jean Salumu | Oostende |
| {{flagicon|USA}} Chase Fieler | Oostende | {{flagicon|BEL}} Jean-Marc Mwema | Oostende |
| {{flagicon|USA}} Seth Tuttle | Proximus Spirou | {{flagicon|NGR}} Tonye Jekiri | Oostende |
In European competitions
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Team | Competition | Progress | {{Tooltip|Ref|Reference}} |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oostende | rowspan="2" style="background-color:#071D49;color:#D0D3D4;text-align:center"|Champions League | Regular season | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | [http://www.basketballcl.com/17-18/news/basketball-champions-league-qualification-rounds-and-regular-season-draw-completedBasketball Champions League Qualification Rounds and Regular Season draw completed]{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
| Telenet Giants Antwerp | Regular season | ||
| Proximus Spirou | rowspan="2" style="background-color:#0080C8;color:white;text-align:center"|FIBA Europe Cup | Regular season | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | |
| Belfius Mons-Hainaut | Second round |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Belgian Basketball League}}
{{European Basketball Season 2017–18}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2017-18 Belgian Basketball League}}