"Sabah" basketball players started the super series with a victory

 On July 12, our U-20 men national team played its second group game in the European Championship division B held in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Our basketball players won a tight game against the host team Slovakia with a score of 72:66. The most productive player of the match was our national team member Emanuel Agbason with 26 points and 16 rebounds.

 It should be noted that our team will play its next group game against Ireland on July 14 at 22:30 Baku time.

 The Azerbaijan Basketball Federation (ABF) has officially presented the competition format, participation requirements, and key regulatory changes for the 2026-2027 Azerbaijan Basketball League (ABL) season. Promising higher competition, thrilling matchups, and top-tier basketball, the new ABL season will officially tip off on October 3, 2026. The clubs that finished in the top four of last season's standings ("Sabah," "Landau Lions," "Ganja," and "Neftchi") have earned the right to represent Azerbaijan in European club competitions during the 2026–2027 season.

 Championship Format and the Play-In Stage

In the upcoming season, 8 clubs will compete in a three-round regular championship, spanning a total of 21 rounds. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top two teams in the standings will qualify directly for the semifinal stage. The teams finishing 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th will compete in the Play-In stage.

The format for the Play-In stage is structured as follows:

  3rd and 4th Places: The teams in these positions will face each other in a best-of-three play-in series. Home-court advantage will belong to the team that finished higher in the regular season standings. The winner of this series will advance directly to the semifinals to face the 2nd-place finisher of the regular season.

 5th and 6th Places: These teams will also compete in a best-of-three play-in series, with home-court advantage given to the higher-ranked club. The winner of this series will then play a best-of-three series against the loser of the 3rd vs. 4th place matchup. The winner of this final tie will claim the last semifinal spot and face the 1st-place finisher of the regular season. Home-court advantage will once again go to the team with the higher regular-season ranking.

The semifinal and final stages will follow a best-of-five series format. The first team to secure three wins in the semifinal series will advance to the finals. In the final series, the first team to win three games will be crowned the Champion of the Azerbaijan Basketball League (ABL).

Meanwhile, the teams finishing 7th and 8th in the regular season will face each other in a single Play-Out game, hosted by the higher-ranked club. The winning team will retain its spot in the ABL for the following season.

 Participating Clubs and Licensing

Based on the final results of the 2025–2026 season, the following clubs have earned the right to participate in the new season:

 * Sabah BC

 * Landau Lions BC

 * Ganja BC

 * Neftchi SC

 * Sheki BC

 * Nakhchivan BC

 * Ordu SC

 * NTD BC

 Should any of the aforementioned clubs fail to submit the required documentation or meet the administrative and sporting criteria stipulated in the ABL Regulations (2026/27), the ABF will initiate an invitation process for the clubs that finished in 9th to 12th places last season. The final list of participating clubs will be confirmed upon the completion of the registration and licensing process.

 Key Changes for the ABL 2026–2027 Season

 1.Home-Court Advantage in the Third Round

   The first two rounds of the regular season will follow the traditional home-and-away format. In the third round, home-court advantage for each matchup will be awarded to the team that held the higher position in the league standings at the conclusion of the first two rounds.

 2.Homegrown Player Quota (Limit Rule)

   The ABL will continue to implement the "4+1" rule during games, maintaining the standard from the previous season. Each team must ensure that at least 1 homegrown (local) player is on the court at all times during play. Additionally, every club participating in the ABL must register at least 5 homegrown players with the ABF prior to the start of the season. This approach aims to provide continuous support for the development of local basketball players, increase their playing time opportunities, and establish a broader talent pool for the national teams.

 3.Dual-Licensing System

   Basketball players born in 2005 or later will be eligible to feature in the newly established Second Basketball League of Azerbaijan under a "Dual-Licensing System." Participation in this system will be mandatory when required. This initiative is designed to help young basketball players gain more competitive game experience and accelerate their long-term professional growth.

 4.Accreditation of Player and Coach Agents

   Starting this season, the ABF will introduce an official accreditation system for player and coach agents. This system aims to enhance transparency in negotiations, prevent conflicts of interest, and ensure that representation activities align with international professional standards.

   * The accreditation system applies exclusively to the representation of players and coaches who hold Azerbaijani citizenship.

   * Any individual representing an Azerbaijani citizen (player or coach) in negotiations with ABL clubs must be a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, hold a valid FIBA Agent License, and be officially accredited by the ABF.

   * Players, coaches, managers, club officials, or individuals holding any other position within ABL clubs are strictly prohibited from acting as agents or intermediaries and conducting transfers.

   * Clubs and players may only engage in transfer and contract negotiations directly or through ABF-accredited agents. Violators will face disciplinary measures and sanctions in accordance with the ABL Regulations (2026/27).

The Federation firmly believes that this initiative will significantly contribute to further strengthening transparency, professionalism, and sporting integrity within national basketball. The Azerbaijan Basketball Federation (ABF) wishes the best of luck to the clubs representing our country in European tournaments and wishes all teams a highly competitive, exciting, and injury-free season.

 On July 5, our national men's basketball team faced the Irish team in the final group game of the preliminary qualifying round of the 2029 European Championship. In the match held at the Baku Sports Palace, the visiting Irish defeated our national team with a score of 76:70.

 It should be noted that our national team concluded the qualifying round games with 2 wins and 3 losses.