Preparations for the next season have begun

BIBL has already started the campaign regarding season 2015-2016 and all the documents and regulations have been sent to the member Federations and the clubs from the previous season.

Most of the teams from season 2014-2015 expressed desire to continue with us and the communication with them and their Federations is in process. Talks are done with BC Rilski Sportist and KK Kumanovo 2009 as well as KK Kozuv, KK Mornar, KK Sutjeska and KK Teodo. All of them are being waited to confirm in writing their participation in the deadlines set by BIBL as the majority of the National Federations along with their Leagues are meeting during the upcoming 2 weeks and afterwords we do expect the official written confirmations from them according to the BIBL Regulations.

KB Sigal Prishtina and KB Peja are also interested in competing in BIBL but due to the fact there is a third team from Kosovo willing to participate, things there are to be checked and re-confirmed. KB Bashkimi from Prizren sent to the League an official request supported by the Kosovo Basketball Federaion. Therefore, on Monday, the Sports Director Mr. Shay Shtriks is going to visit the city of Prizren, meet the Management and check the conditions there and the possibilities KB Bashkimi to join the competition already from October. Then, discussions with KB Sigal Prishtina and KB Peja will be also held in Prishtina along with the Kosovo Basketball Federation before taking final decision.

Afterwards, Mr. Shtriks will continue to Tirana where he will have a meeting with the President of the Albanian Basketball Federation Mr. Avni Ponari and with KS Vllaznia in order to speak over their future with BIBL and the chances a second representative from Albania maybe to be registered. Meetings with KK Kumanovo 2009 and KK Kozuv are scheduled for the following week too after which, the new Management of the Macedonian Basketball Federation shall officially present the confirmation of their clubs for the upcoming season.

As above-mentioned, BC Rilski Sportist also confirmed their desire to continue and now letter from the Bulgarian Basketball Federations is being waited for. Mr. Georgi Glushkov - the President of the Federation - is very optimistic one more Bulgarian representative could be found and that will become clear in the following 10 days after the Board of the NBL (National Bulgarian League) will take place. The basketball community not only in Bulgaria but all over the Balkans are eagerly waiting for positive news from PBC Levski Sofia to solve their difficult financial situation and return to the BIBL. That should also be known in the few weeks to come. 

The only member Federation that have not entered into talks with BIBL yet is the Romanian Basketball Federation but we do expect this to happen in the next few weeks. Romania was hosting Eurobasket Women 2015 in June and all the forces and attention was put exactly there. Thus, the BIBL will wait for them to first decide about their national league 2015-2016 and give the Romanian teams more time to catch up with the preparations. However, preliminary conversation with SCM U Craiova started and both the club and BIBL hope they will play their 3rd season. 

The new season of the Balkan League is set to start on October 13th 2015 and the two Final games will be played on April 12th 2016 and April 20th 2016 respectively.

HERE you can check the Official Regulations of the Balkan League for season 2015/2016.