Australian Basketball Association

The Australian Basketball Association (ABA) was a semi-professional basketball competition in Australia. The competition had five leagues under its banner during the 2000s operating as conferences: South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), Queensland Basketball League (QBL), Central Australian Basketball League (Central ABL), Big V and Waratah League. The ABA's roots can be traced back as far as 1965 and operated under many different names and structures until 2008.

History In 1965, the South Eastern Conference (SEC) was established. The SEC continued until 1971 when the Australian Club Championships gained pre-eminence. The Australian Club Championships ceased operations after 1980 due to the rise of Australia's first truly national competition, the National Basketball League (NBL).

In 1981, the SEC was reborn as the South Eastern Basketball League (SEBL). The competition was known as SEBL for seven seasons until being officially known as the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) from 1988 to 1991. The competition became known as the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), and in 1994 it merged with the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) to grow to three conferences: North, South and East. In 1998, the CBA saw further expansion with the inclusion of a Central Conference from South Australia.

The CBA was restructured as the Australian Basketball Association (ABA) in 1999, and over the next two years, the Big V from Victoria (2000) and the Waratah League from New South Wales (2001) joined the ABA.

Starting in 2002, the champions of each of the six conferences and a number of wildcard entries competed at the annual ABA National Finals. In 2007, Basketball Australia took over as operators of the ABA. A brand change saw the Australian Club Championships (ACC) operate as the national finals series in 2007 and 2008.

The ABA and ACC was abandoned following the 2008 season, resulting in the SEABL, QBL, Central ABL, Big V and Waratah League continuing on as independent leagues.

List of National champions

Men TeamsWinLossTotalYear(s) wonYear(s) lostBallarat Miners3361989, 1994, 19951990, 1991, 1992Cairns Marlins3251998, 2004, 20071994, 1997Geelong Cats/Supercats3031981, 1999, 2006—Bulleen Boomers2351984, 19901983, 1985, 1988Bendigo Braves2131988, 20051989Hobart Chargers2132000, 20022008Frankston Bears/Blues13419821981, 1995, 1998Kilsyth Cobras12319851999, 2000Sydney City Slickers/Sydney City Comets/Sydney Comets12319921986, 2005Melbourne Tigers11219831982Newcastle Hunters11219861987Knox Raiders11219911996North-West Tasmania Originals/Thunder11219962004Adelaide Buffalos1011987—North East Melbourne Arrows1011993—Suncoast Clippers1011997—Mount Gambier Pioneers1012003—Rockhampton Rockets1012008—Dandenong Rangers022—2006, 2007Chelsea Gulls011—1984Murray Bridge Bullets011—1993Australian Institute of Sport011—2002

Women TeamsWinLossTotalYear(s) wonYear(s) lostBayside/Frankston Blues3361993, 1997, 20041991, 1992, 1994Knox Raiders3251992, 1994, 19961998, 2005Bendigo Braves2132000, 20032006Townsville Sunbirds/Flames2132007, 20081997Dandenong Rangers2021990, 1991—Kilsyth Cobras2021998, 2002—Ballarat Miners2022005, 2006—Launceston Tornadoes11219951996Southern Districts Spartans1011999—Sturt Sabres022—1990, 2002Broadmeadows Broncos011—1993Adelaide Opals011—1995Norwood Flames011—1999Nunawading Spectres011—2000Forestville Eagles011—2003North Adelaide Rockets011—2004Hume City Broncos011—2007Sydney Comets011—2008

Australian Basketball Association

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