Liga de las Americas (2nd Season)

[J-Mart]

Teams
Arecibo Capitanes (PUR)
Carolina Gigantes (PUR)
Peñarol de Mar del Plata (ARG)
Libertad Sunchales (ARG)
Regatas Corrientes (ARG)
Liceo (C.R.)
Pioneros de Quintana Roo (MEX)
Halcones de Xalapa (MEX)
Flamengo (BRA)
Biguá (URU)

post any news about the Liga on this thread

[alermac]

Let's hope both teams can keep the most possible players from this lineups, because they are really something.

Argentinean representatives would be:

Peñarol de Mar del Plata (as defending champions)
Libertad de Sunchales (as LNB champions)
Regatas Corrientes (as Liga Sudamericana champions)

I promise to post the rosters as soon as they are finished, since LNB is now in offseason and players are still being signed.

Two other clubs that have earned their spots are:

Liceo (Costa Rica) - as Liga Centroamericana champions
Pioneros de Quintana Roo (Mexico) - as Liga Centroamericana finalists
Halcones de Xalapa (Mexico) - as LNBP champions
Flamengo (Brazil) - as National champions
Biguá (Uruguay) - as LUB champions

There are still some gaps to be filled, since some leagues aren't finished and FIBA Americas wants to involve more countries than last edition.

[Nikoo]

Can't wait. I won 150 euros last year .

Who will represent USA - IBL, D-League or CBA?

[mvblair]

Who will represent USA - IBL, D-League or CBA?

I just spent a few minutes clicking around on the internet, but I have no idea.

[JGX]

Who will represent USA - IBL, D-League or CBA?

This would be a good event for a D-League team but I suspect they will just come up with some fake teams like last year.

[J-Mart]

will Venezuela be represented this tournament?

[alermac]

will Venezuela be represented this tournament?

It's really up to them. Last season Venezuelan LPB clubs declined, and they could possibly do it again because of the same issures that complicate BSN clubs.

Who will represent USA - IBL, D-League or CBA?

Too soon to tell. Last season they were represented by an ABA team and a PBL select team. FIBA Americas' president said the NBDL has expressed interest in taking part, but it's a long way till November.

[alermac]

FIBA Americas press release, from the meeting of their Executive Comittee:

"The Executive Committee decided to exclude the USA clubs from participating in the “Liga de las Americas”. FIBA Americas is studying some changes in the system of competition that will begin in December 2008."

[J-Mart]

Carolina Gigantes (PUR) is considering to choose not to play the tournament since all their starting lineup and half their bench will not be available for the tournament.


Those players are:
Chris Burguess (Ukraine)
Angelo Reyes (Uruguay)
Alejandro "Bimbo" Carmona (Mexico)
Ebi Ere (Australia)
Filiberto Rivera (Germany)
Luis Villafañe (Mexico)
Alvin Cruz (Hungary)
Luis Rosa Clemente (Mexico)


Arecibo will miss Carlos Rivera (Poland), Keenan Jourdon (Mexico) and Rodney White (Israel)
They are already practicing, and they will play a couple of exhibitions at China and Nicaragua.

Their championship depth chart was:
Osiris Ricardo-Raul Rivera-Mario Butler
Rodney White-Keenan Jourdon-Karel Rosario-Angel Rosa Clemente
Angel "Buster" Figueroa-
Erick Rodriguez-David Cortez
Bobby Joe Hatton-Pachy Cruz-Carlos Rivera

http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/noticia/baloncesto/deportes/carolina_podria_no_jugar/465670

[J-Mart]

http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/noticia/baloncesto/deportes/evaluan_a_marcus_fizer/469315

Marcus Fizer is in PR. He is being evaluated by the Capitanes. Likely to play at the tournament

[alermac]

Press release from FIBA Americas:

With the national and international competition schedules as the main reason for this new change, the 2008/09 FIBA Americas League shall be held under a new game system.

On this Second Edition, and as the First one, 16 (sixteen) teams will be participating, starting the second week of December 2008 through the first week of February 2009.

Two “four-team series” will be played in both the South and North regions of the Americas, with two of them scheduled for December 2008, and the other two for January 2009.

The winners of each “four-team series” will qualify for the “Final Four”, which is scheduled for February 2009.

As with the first Edition, every game will be broadcasted by FOX Sports for the whole continent. The bidding process for those teams interested in hosting one of those “four-team series” has already begun.

The countries that have already confirmed their representation at the FIBA AMERICAS LEAUE 2008/09 are: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay for South America. For Central America and the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic.

So, two basic changes:
1) More countries involved.
2) No quarterfinals; pool round qualifies directly into Final Four. Hence a shorter tournament, since Final Fourers will only play 6 games instead of last season's 8 or 9.

[rikhardur]

FIBA Americas - 2008/09 FIBA Americas League has new structure


SAN JUAN (FIBA Americas League) - FIBA Americas, the Zone organization of FIBA in the Americas with headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, announced a new competition format for the 2008/2009 edition of the FIBA Americas League.

With the national and international competition schedules as the main reason for this new format, the 2008/09 FIBA Americas League will be organized with a new system of play.

16 (sixteen) teams will be participating, starting the second week of December 2008 through the first week of February 2009.

Two “four-team series” will be played in both the South and North regions of the Americas, with two of them scheduled for December 2008, and the other two for January 2009.

The winners of each “four-team series” will qualify for the “Final Four”, which is scheduled for February 2009.

Every game will be broadcasted by FOX Sports for the whole continent. The bidding process for those teams interested in hosting one of those “four-team series” has already started.

The countries that have already confirmed their representation at the FIBA AMERICAS LEAUE 2008/09 are: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay for South America. For Central America and the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic.

The FIBA Americas League is the most important international club competition in the Americas. Sixteen teams were active in the first edition, with Mar del Plata Peñarol from Argentina crowned as the 2007/08 Champions.

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/p/newsid/28677/arti.html

[J-Mart]

there is a rumor that Arecibo will trade Bobby Joe Hatton to Ponce for Jeff Aubry and Wilfredo Pagan. That would give Arecibo a frontline of Jeffrey Aubry, Marcus Fizer and "Buster" Figueroa.

[cikladols]

Is this league something like Euroleague in europe? Are these teams strongest in latin-america region?

[J-Mart]

Carolina will not play