The short version
- El Vocero and NotiCel reported the LBP will launch its eighth season on Sunday, Nov. 1 with 40 teams divided into four sections of 10
- Each team will play 18 regular-season games; the top two per section advance directly to Sweet 16 while third-to-eighth place teams enter new repechage rounds, according to both outlets
- The league held its first Draft Combine and draft, will introduce monitor reviews and coach challenges in officiating, and will broadcast opening night on Facebook and YouTube, El Vocero reported
- Defending champions Llaneros de Toa Baja will receive their rings on Friday, Nov. 6 against Mets de Guaynabo and the league unveiled its first official song "La Puertorra", both sources stated
Season Launch and Format Changes
The Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña (LBP) will open its eighth season on Sunday, Nov. 1 with 40 teams from municipalities across Puerto Rico, El Vocero reported. The teams will be split into four geographic sections — Norte, Sur, Este and Oeste — with 10 squads in each. Every team is scheduled to play 18 regular-season games.
For the first time the postseason will include a repechage round. The top two teams from each section will advance directly to the Sweet 16 while teams finishing third through eighth in their section will compete in classification rounds, NotiCel reported. LBP president William López said the league worked on competitive balance "para que todos los equipos puedan salir a competir y a dar el 200% en cancha por su pueblo." Tournament director Jan Carlos Rivera added that the format "le estamos dando mayor oportunidad de participación."
The season tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on Nov. 1 with five games: San Juan vs. Morovis, Aguada vs. Hormigueros, Villalba vs. Cayey, Cidra vs. Aibonito and Carolina vs. Humacao. The first official broadcast will be the Aguada-Hormigueros game from the newly remodeled Coliseo Dr. Wilfredo Toro in Hormigueros on the LBP's Facebook and YouTube pages, according to both outlets.
Also on PuertoRico.com: Restaurants & bars in Guaynabo
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Hemos podido trabajar lo que es el balance competitivo, como siempre lo hemos hecho, para que todos los equipos puedan salir a competir y a dar el 200% en cancha por su pueblo
Our translation: We have been able to work on competitive balance, as we have always done, so that all teams can go out to compete and give 200% on the court for their town
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Vocero. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Additional Season Features
The LBP held its first Draft Combine and draft process to identify talent and strengthen rosters, El Vocero reported. New officiating rules will allow review of plays via monitor and permit coaches to use a challenge under league regulations, NotiCel and El Vocero both stated.
On Friday, Nov. 6 the defending champion Llaneros de Toa Baja will host the Mets de Guaynabo in a ceremony that includes the presentation of championship rings, NotiCel reported. The league also presented its first official song, "La Puertorra," performed by Michael Stuart and Algareplena, El Vocero reported.
Where the sources differ
Both El Vocero and NotiCel agree on the Nov. 1 start date, 40 teams in four sections of 10, 18-game regular season, new repechage for teams finishing 3rd-8th, direct advancement for top-two teams, first Draft Combine, monitor reviews and challenges in officiating, the five opening-night matchups, the Aguada-Hormigueros broadcast from the remodeled Hormigueros coliseum, the Nov. 6 ring ceremony for Toa Baja, and the song "La Puertorra." El Vocero alone reported the press conference location at Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples in San Juan and the theme "Esta es La Liga del Pueblo." The two outlets used nearly identical quotes from William López and Jan Carlos Rivera.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not give the full regular-season schedule beyond opening night, exact dates for the postseason, ticket prices or sales information, whether any games will be on television beyond the opening-night internet stream, or the identities of all 40 participating teams beyond the five opening matchups and the two teams mentioned for Nov. 6.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Regresa la Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña con 40 equipos listos para competir
- Reporting Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña iniciará torneo con 40 equipos y nuevo formato de postemporada
How we checked this
El Vocero and NotiCel both covered the LBP's season-launch announcements made at a press conference on Oct. 27. Details such as the repechage format, Draft Combine and the song rest on statements from league president William López, tournament director Jan Carlos Rivera and the organization itself.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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