The Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA) (Spanish: Liga de Campeones de Baloncesto de las Américas, Portuguese: Liga dos Campeões de Basquetebol das Américas) is Pan-America's premier men's basketball club competition. Founded in 2019, it replaced the FIBA Americas League as the highest level league in the Americas. The winner of each year's competition qualifies to the annual FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
Each season exists of 12 teams that qualify through their domestic leagues and the league is typically organized between December and April of the following calendar year.
Thus far the league has been won by four different teams. Argentine team Quimsa and Brazilian team Flamengo are the only teams to win the championship twice.
History Background The first panamerican tournament for men's clubs was held in 1993. The competition lasted until 2000 and in 2007 FIBA started a new league and not a tournament: the top South American teams would no longer play in the Liga Sudamericana.
Launch On 24 September 2019, FIBA launched the Panamerican competition, which derives its name and branding from the European Basketball Champions League. The competition replaced the FIBA Americas League as premier league in the Americas, President Horacio Muratore stated: "This is not a succession of Liga de las Américas, but rather a new product of our development project that will foster a balance between representation and quality". The competition consisted of twelve teams, which had to qualify through their domestic leagues. The inaugural season started on October 28, 2019. On October 30, 2021, Quimsa won the inaugural championship after winning the final in Montevideo. Canadian clubs Edmonton Stingers and Brampton Honey Badgers are the only North American teams to participate in the competition so far.
Panamerican competitions (1993-present) +Competitions historically considered as the top on Panamerican levelTimespanLeagueNote(s)1993-2000Campeonato Panamericano de Clubes de Básquetbol2007-2019FIBA Americas League2019–presentBasketball Champions League Americas (BCLA)
Format As for the competition's format, the first phase of the BCLA will feature four groups of three teams each, with two qualifying teams per group that move on to the Quarter-Finals, which will be a best-of-three series. The Semi-Finals and the Final will also be decided in a best-of-three format.
Clubs qualify for the competition mostly based on performance in their national leagues and cup competitions. Although exceptional, some teams can be wildcarded.
Results List of seasons EditionYearHosts ChampionsScore and Venue Runners-up Third placeScore and Venue Fourth placeNo. of teams12019–20 MontevideoQuimsa92–86Antel Arena, MontevideoFlamengo San Lorenzo and Instituto122 2021 ManaguaFlamengo84–80Alexis Arguello Sports Complex, ManaguaReal EstelíMinas 75–58 Alexis Arguello Sports Complex, ManaguaSão Paulo3 2021–22 Rio de JaneiroSão Paulo98–84Carioca Arena 1, Rio de JaneiroBiguá123 Minas 91–81 Carioca Arena 1, Rio de JaneiroQuimsa4 2022–23 FrancaSesi Franca88–79Pedrocão, FrancaFlamengo123 Minas 94–81 Pedrocão, FrancaQuimsa5 2023–24 Santiago del EsteroQuimsa92–80Estadio Ciudad, Santiago del EsteroFlamengoHalcones de Xalapa 101–99 (OT) Estadio Ciudad, Santiago del EsteroHebraica Macabi6 2024–25 Rio de JaneiroFlamengo83–57Ginásio do Maracanãzinho, Rio de JaneiroBoca JuniorsSesi Franca 74–59Ginásio do Maracanãzinho, Rio de JaneiroInstituto7 2025–26 Buenos AiresBoca Juniors86–72Estadio Obras Sanitarias, Buenos AiresSesi FrancaNacional 94–65 Estadio Obras Sanitarias, Buenos AiresFlamengo
Performance Medals
Performance by club +Performances in the BCL Americas by clubClubTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up Flamengo232021, 20252020, 2023, 2024 Quimsa22020, 2024 Franca1120232026 Boca Juniors1120262025 São Paulo12022 Real Estelí12021 Biguá12022
Performance by country +Performance by nationCountryTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up 442021, 2022, 2023, 20252020, 2023, 2024, 2026 312020, 2024, 20262025 12021 12022
Performance by head coach Only one head coach has appeared in multiple finals, as Gustavo de Conti of Flamengo coached in four. +Performance by head coachHead coachWinnerRunner-upYears wonYears runner-up Gustavo de Conti20212020, 2023, 2024 Jorge Sebastián González2020 Bruno Mortari2022 Helinho2023 Leandro Ramella2024 Sergio Hernández2025 Nicolás Casalánguida2026 David Rosario2021 Diego Gutiérrez2022 Gonzalo Pérez2025
All-time participants The following is a list of clubs who have played in the Basketball Champions League Americas at any time since its formation in 2019 to the current season.
1st Champions 2nd Runners-up 3rd Third place 4th Fourth place SF Semifinalists QF Quarterfinalists RS Regular season Q Qualified for upcoming season
Team2021222324252627Totalseasons Boca Juniors QF RS 2nd 1st 4 Ferro Carril Oeste Q 1 Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) Q 1 Instituto SF RS RS 4th QF 5 Obras Sanitarias RS RS RS QF RS 5 Quimsa 1st QF 4th 4th 1st QF Q 7 San Lorenzo SF QF 2 Flamengo 2nd 1st QF 2nd 2nd 1st 4th 7 Franca QF QF 1st QF 3rd 2nd Q 7 Minas 3rd 3rd 3rd QF QF Q 6 Mogi das Cruzes QF 1 Pinheiros Q 1 São Paulo 4th 1st RS 3 Brampton Honey Badgers RS 1 Edmonton Stingers RS 1 Colegio Los Leones de Quilpué RS 1 CD Valdivia RS 1 Universidad de Concepción RS RS QF RS RS 5 Caimanes del Llano RS 1 Paisas Basketball QF QF 2 Titanes de Barranquilla RS 1 Toros del Valle RS 1 Astros de Jalisco QF Q 2 Capitanes RS 1 Halcones de Xalapa 3rd 1 Fuerza Regia QF 1 Libertadores de Querétaro QF 1 Real Estelí QF 2nd QF QF QF QF Q 7 Caballos de Coclé QF 1 Toros de Chiriquí RS 1 Cangrejeros de Santurce QF 1 Aguada RS RS Q 3 Biguá RS 2nd RS RS Q 5 Hebraica Macabi 4th 1 Nacional RS QF 3rd 3 Peñarol QF Q 2 Gladiadores de Anzoátegui RS 1 Guaiqueríes de Margarita Q 1
All-time table
RankClub 1 Flamengo 7 64 50 14 2 3 0 1 1 0 2 Franca 6 53 37 16 1 1 1 0 3 0 3 Quimsa 6 54 31 23 2 0 0 2 2 0 4 Minas 5 46 27 19 0 0 3 0 2 0 5 Real Estelí 6 49 27 22 0 1 0 0 5 0 6 Boca Juniors 4 34 21 13 1 1 0 0 1 1 7 Instituto 5 39 16 23 0 0 1 1 1 2 8 São Paulo 3 22 15 7 1 0 0 1 0 1 9 Nacional 3 25 14 11 0 0 1 0 1 1 10 San Lorenzo 2 15 11 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 11 Biguá 4 25 8 17 0 1 0 0 0 3 12 Obras Sanitarias 5 30 8 22 0 0 0 0 1 4 13 Halcones de Xalapa 1 11 7 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 14 Astros de Jalisco 1 8 6 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 15 Paisas 2 16 6 10 0 0 0 0 2 0 16 Libertadores de Querétaro 1 8 5 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 17 Hebraica Macabi 1 11 4 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 18 Universidad de Concepción 5 30 4 26 0 0 0 0 1 4 19 Edmonton Stingers 1 6 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 Caballos de Coclé 1 7 3 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 21 Cangrejeros de Santurce 1 7 3 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 22 Mogi das Cruzes 1 6 2 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 Gladiadores de Anzoátegui 1 6 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 Titanes de Barranquilla 1 6 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 25 Toros del Valle 1 6 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 26 Peñarol 1 8 2 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 27 Aguada 2 10 2 8 0 0 0 0 0 2 28 Capitanes 1 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 29 Fuerza Regia 1 6 1 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 30 Brampton Honey Badgers 1 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 31 Caimanes del Llano 1 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 32 CD Valdivia 1 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 33 Colegio Los Leones de Quilpué 1 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 34 Toros de Chiriquí 1 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 1
Awards Season MVP Season Player Nationality Club 2019-20 Robinson Quimsa 2021 Hettsheimeir Flamengo 2021-22 Caboclo São Paulo 2022-23 Mariano Franca 2023-24 Frank Hassell Hebraica Macabi 2024-25 Borges Flamengo
Final MVP Season Player Nationality Club 2020 Robinson Quimsa 2021 Hettsheimeir Flamengo 2022 Caboclo São Paulo 2023 Mariano Franca 2024 Robinson (2) Quimsa 2025 Borges Flamengo 2026 Francisco Cáffaro Boca Juniors
Statistical leaders Topscorer Season Player Nationality Club PPG 2019-20 Dwayne Davis Instituto ACC22.0 2021 Jezreel De Jesús Real Estelí 20.1 2021-22 Donald Sims Biguá24.8 2022-23 Ismael Romero Libertadores de Querétaro 21.3 2023-24 Andre Spight Obras18.2 2024-25 Victor Luiz Paisas de Medellin23.7 2025-26 Trey Burke Astros de Jalisco19.3
Rebounds Season Player Nationality Club RPG 2019-20 Alexandre De Sousa Mogi das Cruzes8.8 2021 Ernesto Oglivie Caballos de Coclé9.7 2021-22 Ismael Romero Real Estelí 11.1 2022-23 Luis Santos Biguá10.8 2023-24 Eric Anderson Nacional10.0 2024-25 Eloy Vargas Paisas10.0 2025-26 Connor Zinaich Nacional9.7
Assists Season Player Nationality Club APG 2019-20 Franco Balbi Flamengo6.4 2021Fernando Zurbriggen Obras6.3 2021-22 Santiago Vidal Bigua9.0 2022-23 Alexy Borges Minas Tenis6.4 2023-24 Luciano Parodi Hebraica Macabi6.7 2024-25 Alexey Borges Flamengo8.0 2025-26 Pedro Barral Obras Basket5.7
Index rating Season Player Nationality Club RPG 2019-20 Danilo Fuzaro Mogi das Cruzes22.0 2021Fernando Zurbriggen Obras21.8 2021-22 Bruno Caboclo São Paulo32.8 2022-23 Luis Santos Biguá25.5 2023-24 Frank Hassell Hebraica Macabi22.6 2024-25 Alexey Borges Flamengo21.6 2025-26 Connor Zinaich Nacional21.6
Broadcasting rights In selected South American countries, the tournament aired live on DSports. In Puerto Rico, available via WAPA-TV. In the United States, available via FanDuel TV. In Brazil, available via Globo's SporTV. For countries without broadcasting rights, BCLA also available via Basketball Champions League Americas YouTube channel.
Americas' top tier competitions 1993-2000: Panamerican Basketball Championship (es) 2000-2007: none 2007-2019: FIBA Americas League 2019-present: Basketball Champions League Americas
See also FIBA Americas League Campeonato Panamericano de Clubes de Básquetbol Basketball Champions League FIBA Intercontinental Cup
References
External links Official website BCL Americas on Twitter