The 1988–89 BBL season was the second season of the British Basketball League (known as the Carlsberg League for sponsorship reasons) since its establishment in 1987. The season featured a total of 11 teams, playing 20 games each. The league had suffered in the 1989 close season because Portsmouth was wound up followed by Calderdale Explorers and Birmingham Bullets both dropping out of the league. Bolton and Bury Giants became the Olympic City Giants and Kingston moved north of the border playing as Glasgow Rangers. The new season was supposed to feature 12 teams, however Oldham Celtics dropped out of the league and into the National League (Tier 2) after just one game, due to financial difficulties.
The season was dominated by the success of the league's two Scottish teams Glasgow Rangers and Livingston, who finished the regular season in first and second place respectively.BBL Media Guide 2003/04, page 15 Glasgow's Kevin Cadle and Alan Cunningham were also named as the league's Coach and Player of the year, however the Scottish dominance was broken by Bracknell Tigers who were victorious in the League Trophy against Livingston in the Final.
Below the Carlsberg League in the National League Division 1, it came as no surprise that Oldham Celtics sealed the title bearing in mind that they had originally planned to play in the top tier.
Carlsberg League (Tier 1) Final standings PosTeamPldWL%Pts1 Glasgow Rangers 20 18 2 0.900362 Livingston 20 16 4 0.80032 3 Bracknell Tigers 20 15 5 0.75030 4 Leicester City Riders 20 14 6 0.70028 5 Manchester Eagles 20 13 7 0.65026 6 Sunderland 76ers 20 12 8 0.600247 Hemel Royals 20 9 11 0.45018 8 Olympic City Giants 20 4 16 0.2008 9 Solent Stars 20 4 16 0.200810 Derby Rams 20 3 17 0.1506 11 Crystal Palace 20 2 18 0.1004 = League winners = Qualified for the play-offs
Playoffs Quarter-finals (1) Glasgow Rangers vs. (8) Olympic City Giants
(2) Livingston vs. (7) Hemel Royals
(3) Sunderland 76ers vs. (6) Bracknell Tigers
(4) Leicester City Riders vs. (5) Manchester Eagles
Semi-finals
Third place
Final
National League Division 1 (Tier 2) Final standings PosTeamPldWL%Pts1 Oldham Celtics 20 17 3 0.850342 Brixton Topcats 20 17 3 0.85034 3 Birmingham Bullets 20 16 4 0.80032 4 Worthing Bears 20 15 5 0.75030 5 Gateshead Vikings 20 14 6 0.70028 6 Plymouth Raiders 20 10 10 0.500207 Oxford Park 20 8 12 0.40016 8 Cheshire Jets 20 6 14 0.30012 9 Corby Flyers 20 4 16 0.200810 Stockport Giants 20 3 17 0.1506 11 Tower Hamlets 20 0 20 0.0000 = League winners
Coca-Cola National Cup Second Round
Quarter-finals
+ Derby expelled after match was abandoned following a scuffle
Semi-finals
Final
NatWest Trophy Group stage North Group
TeamPtsPldWLPercent1. Glasgow Rangers20101001.0002. Livingston1610820.8003. Manchester Eagles1010550.5004. Olympic City Giants1010550.5005. Sunderland 76ers410280.2006. Oldham Celtics0100100.000 South Group
TeamPtsPldWLPercent1. Bracknell Tigers1810910.9002. Leicester City Riders1410730.7003. Solent Stars1210640.6004. Derby Rams610370.3005. Hemel Royals610370.3006. Crystal Palace410280.200
Despite dropping out of the Carlsberg League and into the National League after just one game of the season, Oldham Celtics continued their schedule in the League Trophy.
Quarter-finals Glasgow Rangers vs. Olympic City Giants
Livingston vs. Manchester Eagles
Bracknell Tigers vs. Derby Rams
Leicester City Riders vs. Solent Stars
Semi-finals Glasgow Rangers vs. Livingston
Bracknell Tigers vs. Leicester City Riders
Final
Seasonal awards Most Valuable Player: Alan Cunningham (Glasgow Rangers) Coach of the Year: Kevin Cadle (Glasgow Rangers) All-Star Team: Tony Balogun (Leicester City Riders) Jimmy Brandon (Leicester City Riders) Tommy Collier (Livingston) Alan Cunningham (Glasgow Rangers) Dan Davis (Glasgow Rangers) Lorenzo Duncan (Hemel Royals) Butch Hays (Glasgow Rangers) Russ Saunders (Sunderland 76ers) Phil Smith (Solent Stars) Clyde Vaughan (Sunderland 76ers)
References