BIBL continues with nine teams

From Day 1 since the Balkan League was created, the main principle of the competition has been to give a fair and equal chance to everybody. This is why the league took decision to take out KK Sutjeska as the team didn’t fulfill its obligations in the deadlines they signed for.   After the management of BIBL couldn′t find quality enough team to replace Sutjeska, it decided to go with the system of nine teams divided in two groups by 4 and 5 teams respectively. The management does not want that the other teams may suffer after the cancelled participation of Sutjeska and managed to find a new system that will give an equal and fair chance to each team to qualify for the Top 8 and to fight for the trophy.   The new thing in the system is the Qualification Round which will take place after the First Stage and will involve the teams placed fourth in groups A and B and the team placed 5th in group B. They will play in a tournament to be held between January 26th and January 28th 2016 in a neautral court to determine which two will qualify for Top 8. The last placed team will terminate its participation in the competition while the other two will be placed in group C and D following a draw procedure. BIBL will be responsible for the accommodation expenses of the teams playing in the Qualification Round as well as the referee’s fees.   With this system there will be no disadvantage to any team playing in the Balkan League this season. After the First Stage the teams will be divided in two new groups where they are going to meet each other twice on a Home and Away basis. The top two placed teams in each group will qualify for the Semifinal playoffs.   The total number of games for the upcoming season will be 65 which is only a game less than the system with ten teams. In that way there is also no disadvantage to any of the sponsors of the league and the clubs or to the televisions that will broadcast the matches.   The updated schedule and 2015-2016 regulations are already on the BIBL website.

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SCHEDULE FOR GROUP A IN THE BALKAN LEAGUE   SCHEDULE FOR GROUP B IN THE BALKAN LEAGUE