Sport Basketball Play Off's champions London Towers BBL Trophy champions London Towers | BBL champions Leopards National Cup champions Leopards | |
League British Basketball League | ||
The 1996–1997 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The league retained a total of 13 teams, playing 36 games each. The main change featured the long-awaited return of Crystal Palace after several seasons of rejected applications. Palace replaced Doncaster Panthers following the liquidation of the South Yorkshire club.
Contents
The League's two London-based teams dominated throughout the season, with the Leopards team claiming their first silverware in its franchise history after winning the Budweiser League and Sainsbury's Classic Cola Cup double. Their Capital foes, London Towers were equally successful throughout the campaign, clinching the 7 Up Trophy and pipping Leopards to the Play-off title, with a one-point victory in the final at Wembley Arena against their rivals.
Play Off Final - Plymouth 118 Ware 106
Play Off Final - Thames Valley 91 Solihull 83
Northern Group
Southern Group
Quarter-finals
(1) Leopards vs. (8) Leicester Riders
(2) London Towers vs. (7) Newcastle Eagles
(3) Sheffield Sharks vs. (6) Manchester Giants
(4) Birmingham Bullets vs. (5) Chester Jets
Play Off Final - Plymouth 118 Ware 106
Play Off Final - Thames Valley 91 Solihull 83
Group stage
Northern Group
Southern Group
Leicester finished ahead of Manchester by having the best head-to-head record between the teams, whilst Birmingham qualify as fourth-placed finishers with the best record. London received a bye into Quarter-finals.
Quarter-finals
Birmingham Bullets vs. Leicester Riders
Leopards vs. London Towers
Thames Valley Tigers vs. Chester Jets
Worthing Bears vs. Sheffield Sharks
Semi-finals
Chester Jets vs. Leicester Riders
Sheffield Sharks vs. London Towers