Excitement as BBL unveil 2015-16 season plans

The first piece of silverware on offer will once again be the BBL Cup, with the Final being held at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on Sunday 17 January 2016. Another huge crowd is anticipated in one of the most eagerly awaited dates in the British Basketball calendar.

A straight knockout competition, four teams have been given a bye to the Quarter Finals of the competition and these were the top placed clubs in last season’s BBL Championship table. The Semi Finals will be played over two-legs.

The BBL Cup First Round draw is as follows:

Sheffield Sharks v Manchester Giants
Plymouth Raiders v Bristol Flyers
Surrey United v London Lions
Glasgow Rocks v Leeds Force

The BBL Cup Quarter Finals draw is as follows:

Newcastle Eagles v Glasgow Rocks or Leeds Force
Worcester Wolves v London Lions or Surrey United
Leicester Riders v Sheffield Sharks or Manchester Giants
Cheshire Phoenix v Bristol Flyers or Plymouth Raiders

The second piece of silverware on offer will be the BBL Trophy, with the Final due to take place at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on the 28th February 2016.

This knockout competition sees four non-BBL teams invited in Falkirk Fury, Derby Trailblazers, Reading Rockets and Essex Leopards, as the quartet all look to deliver a giant killing.

The BBL Trophy First Round draw is as follows:

London Lions v Leicester Riders
Leeds Force v Cheshire Phoenix
Bristol Flyers v Worcester Wolves
Manchester Giants v Newcastle Eagles
Falkirk Fury v Glasgow Rocks
Derby Trailblazers v Sheffield Sharks
Reading Rockets v Surrey United
Essex Leopards v Plymouth Raiders

The Quarter Finals will be single leg affairs and the Semi Finals will be played over two legs.

The curtain will be raised for the new 2015-16 campaign on Friday 18 September, with three games on opening night – including last year’s all conquering Eagles opening up their title defence at Sharks.

The final game day of the regular season will take place on Sunday 17 April, with those teams managing to secure a coveted top eight finish then competing in two-legged Play Off Quarter Finals and Semi Finals.

The prize for making it to the last game of the season is a return to The 02 for the 2016 BBL Play Off Final.

The prestigious season finale will head back to the capital on Sunday 08 May, having made waves around Europe for the near 15,000 strong record breaking crowd which flocked to the venue for the 2015 edition of the event. Tickets will go on sale for this must-see event later this month.