Syrian Basketball League


The Syrian Basketball League, officially Syriatel Basketbal League, is the top-tier professional men's basketball league in Syria. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Syrian Basketball Federation. Both Aleppo teams, Jalaa SC and Al-Ittihad SC, dominated the league until 1993.

History

Jalaa SC, previously known as Shabibeh, dominated the league from 1956 until 1978. Then another team from Aleppo, Al-Ittihad SC, took all the titles until 1993. Later on, Damascus clubs Al Wahda and Al-Jaish SC won some titles sporadically. In 2021, for the first time in SBL history, the league was won by a club from the city of Homs, Al-Karamah SC.

Sponsorship

As of 2022, the league's main partners are Sinalco, Syriatel, Cham Wings Airlines, Sama TV and Syria TV.

Competition format

The SBL is played by the international FIBA rules. Since 2020–21 the SBL season has a new format. In the regular season, all teams play each other first home and away.
Based on the order in the first round, the top four teams play the playoff system. The semi-final consists of a series played in the twice-to-beat format of the best team with the worst and the second with the third of four.
The final is played in the format of two advancing semi-finalists in a series of three winning matches in the best of five format.

Promotion and relegation

The two worst teams relegate at the end of the season and the two best teams in Division 2 advance to the league.

Current clubs

2023–24 teams:

TeamCityVenue
Jalaa SCAleppoAl-Assad Sports Arena
Al-Ittihad SCAleppoAl-Hamadaniah Sports Arena
Al-Hurriya SCAleppoAl-Assad Sports Arena
Al-Jaish SCDamascusAl-Fayhaa Arena
Al Wahda SCDamascusAl-Fayhaa Arena
Al-Karamah SCHomsGhazwan Abu Zaid Arena
Al-Wathba SCHomsGhazwan Abu Zaid Arena
Al-Nawair SCHamaNaseh al-Wani Arena

Women's league

2021–22 teams:
TeamCityVenue
Al-Jalaa SCAleppoAl-Jalaa Arena
Al-Ittihad SCAleppoAl-Assad Sports Arena
Ouroube SCAleppoAl-Yarmouk Arena
Al-Thawra SCDamascusAl-Fayhaa Arena
Al-Wahda SCDamascusAl-Fayhaa Arena
Barada SCDamascusAl-Fayhaa Arena
Qasioun SCDamascusAl-Fayhaa Arena
Tishreen SCLatakiaLatakia Sports Arena
Muhardeh SCMuhardehMuhardeh Arena
Al-Sahel SCTartousBasel al-Assad Arena