The 1987–88 BBL season was the first season of the British Basketball League (known as the Carlsberg League for sponsorship reasons), a breakaway competition formed by teams from the English National League and the Scottish National League. The season featured a total of 15 teams, playing 28 games each.
Portsmouth, reigning champions of the English League claimed the regular season title with a dominating campaign led by the likes of Alan Cunningham and Colin Irish. They weren't able to repeat their success in the post-season play-off's as third-seed Livingston, the reigning Scottish champions, caused a huge upset with an 81–72 win over Portsmouth in the final.BBL Media Guide 2003/04, page 15 Kingston won their fourth consecutive National Cup and Livingston claimed the inaugural BBL Trophy.
In the National League (the tier below the Carlsberg League) the Worthing Bears won the league with a 100% (18–0) record and in the play-off semi-final Billy Hungrecker scored a record 73 points in a 119–110 overtime win over Plymouth Raiders, before defeating Brixton TopCats in the final.
Carlsberg League (Tier 1)
Final standings PosTeamPldWL%PFPAPts1 Portsmouth 28 26 2 0.92826772189522 Kingston 28 24 4 0.8572931247548 3 Livingston 28 22 6 0.7852762229944 4 Manchester United 28 21 7 0.7502718234542 5 Calderdale Explorers 28 20 8 0.7142694225640 6 Bracknell Tigers 28 17 11 0.60726232435347 Birmingham Bullets 28 14 14 0.5002638275728 8 Solent Stars 28 14 14 0.5002638275728 9 Leicester City Riders 28 14 14 0.5002780267828 10 Bolton & Bury Giants 28 12 16 0.4282460248524 11 Hemel & Watford Royals 28 9 19 0.321264728931812 Sunderland 76ers 28 8 20 0.2852588290516 13 Derby Rams 28 4 24 0.142206226408 14 Oldham Celtics 28 3 25 0.107243530406 15 Crystal Palace 28 2 26 0.071228129814 = League winners = Qualified for the play-offs
Carlsberg League playoffs
Playoffs
Quarter-finals (1) Portsmouth vs. (8) Solent Stars
(2) Kingston vs. (7) Birmingham Bullets
(3) Livingston vs. (6) Bracknell Tigers
(4) Manchester United vs. (5) Calderdale Explorers
Semi-finals
Final
National League (Tier 2)
Final standings PosTeamPldWL%Pts1 Worthing Bears 18 18 0 1.000362 Brixton Topcats 18 14 4 0.77828 3 Tower Hamlets 18 12 6 0.66724 4 Plymouth Raiders 18 12 6 0.66724 5 Gateshead 18 11 7 0.61122 6 Aberdare 18 9 9 0.500187 Ellesmere Port Jets 18 7 11 0.38914 8 Market Harborough 18 3 15 0.1676 9 Cardiff 18 2 16 0.111410 Stevenage 18 2 16 0.1114 = League winners
Prudential National Cup
Second round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
NatWest Trophy
Group stage North Group 1
TeamPtsPldWLPercent1. Calderdale Explorers106510.8332. Manchester United106510.8333. Bolton & Bury Giants46240.3334. Oldham Celtics06060.000 North Group 2
TeamPtsPldWLPercent1. Livingston126601.0002. Leicester City Riders66330.5003. Sunderland 76ers66330.5004. Derby Rams06060.000 South Group 1
TeamPtsPldWLPercent1. Kingston126601.0002. Hemel & Watford Royals46240.3333. Crystal Palace46240.3334. Birmingham Bullets46240.333 South Group 2
TeamPtsPldWLPercent1. Portsmouth84401.0002. Bracknell Tigers44220.5003. Solent Stars04040.000
Semi-finals Calderdale Explorers vs. Livingston
Kingston vs. Portsmouth
Final
Seasonal awards Most Valuable Player: Daryl Thomas (Hemel & Watford Royals) Coach of the Year: Gary Johnson (Calderdale Explorers) All-Star Team: Steve Bontrager (Kingston) Alan Cunningham (Portsmouth F.C.) Dan Davis (Kingston) Vic Flemming (Livingston) Marcus Gaither (Birmingham Bullets) Colin Irish (Portsmouth F.C.) Gary Johnson (Calderdale Explorers) Phil Smith (Solent Stars) Daryl Thomas (Hemel & Watford Royals) Clyde Vaughan (Leicester City Riders)
References