The American Professional Basketball League (APBL) was a semi-professional men's basketball league that began play in 2010. Originally known as the Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League (ACPBL),[1] the league changed its name before the 2012–13 season. The league ceased operations after the 2019 season.[2] Teams were located up and down the Atlantic Coast from New York to Northern Virginia.[citation needed]
 American Professional Basketball League | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Ceased | 2019 |
| Owner(s) | Brian Graham [citation needed] |
| No. of teams | 17 |
| Country | United States |
| Last champion(s) | Beltway Bombers (2019)[citation needed] |
| Most titles | Beltway Bombers (3)[citation needed] |
| Official website | theAPBL.com |
History
editFormed in 2010 as the ACPBL, the league initially was made up of two teams (Buffalo Stampede, Washington GreenHawks) formerly of the Premier Basketball League, three teams (Beltway Bombers, Garden State Rebels, Tru Hope Trailblazers) formerly of the Eastern Basketball Alliance, and three expansion teams (Hudson Valley Kingz, New York Lions, Westchester Wildkatz).[citation needed]
For the 2016-17 season the APBL narrowed its footprint, with the majority of teams in the New York City metro area. Teams departing included the Bay Area Shuckers, Brooklyn Blazers, D.C. Funkhouse, NoVA Hawks, Rockville Victors and Winchester Storm. New teams joining for 2016–17: APBL United (a league-operated free agent team) and the New York Crusaders.[citation needed] Beltway Bombers captured their second league title in 2017 defeating APBL United 123-105 in the championship game.[citation needed]
Teams
edit| Team | City | Arena | Founded | First season in APBL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APBL United | Travel team | --- | 2016 | 2016 |
| Baltimore Lords of War | Dundalk, Maryland | Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center | 2018 | 2018 |
| Beltway Bombers | La Plata, Maryland | College of Southern Maryland | 2009 | 2010 |
| Delaware Eastern Shore Generals | Milford, Delaware | Milford High School | 2017 | 2017 |
| Empire State Basketball Club | Westchester, New York | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Harford Buccaneers | Baltimore, Maryland | 2018 | 2018 | |
| Manhattan Pride | Manhattan, New York | Latino Pastoral Action Center | 2011 | 2011 |
| Metropolitan All-Stars | Washington D.C. | 2012 | 2017 | |
| New York City Black Eagles | Brooklyn, New York | Williamsburg Community Center | 2012 | 2012 |
| New York City 524 | Staten Island, New York | Fastbreak Basketball Center | 2011 | 2011 |
| New York Crusaders | Brooklyn, New York | Dr. Susan S. McKinney Secondary School of the Arts | 2015 | 2016 |
| New York Fearless | New York, New York | 2015 | 2015 | |
| Ocean 11 Brooklyn | Brooklyn, New York | Williamsburg Charter High School | 2016 | 2016 |
| Pelham Bay Legends | The Bronx, New York | 2018 | 2018 | |
| Philadelphia Stunnaz | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 2017 | 2017 | |
| TE United | New York City, New York | 2018 | 2018 | |
| Westchester Power | Westchester, New York | 2018 | 2018 |
Former teams
edit- Bay Area Shuckers (2011–16)
- Brooklyn All Game (2012–14)
- Brooklyn Blazers (2012–16)
- Brooklyn Firebirds (2012–13)
- Buffalo Stampede (2010–11)
- Buffalo Warriors (2011–12)
- Capital City Express (2012–14)
- D.C. Drew All Stars (2014)
- D.C. Funkhouse Piranhas (2013–16)
- Garden State Rebels (2010–12)
- Gotham City Revolution (2013–14)
- Hartford Lightning (2011–12)
- Hudson Valley Hype (2014)
- Hudson Valley Kingz (2010–16)
- Long Island United (2014)
- Metropolitan All-Stars (2012–14)
- New Jersey Thunder (2013–16)
- New York Lions (2010–11)
- North Jersey Pros (2011–12)
- NoVA Hawks (2012–16)
- Philadelphia Destroyers (2011–14)
- Rockville Victors (2012–17)
- Toms River Shooters (2011–12)
- Tri-City Suns (2011)
- Tru Hope Trailblazers (2010–11)
- Washington GreenHawks (2010) - team dissolved and replaced by Tri-City Suns in January 2011
- Westchester Wildkatz (2010–11)
- Winchester Storm (2012–16)[citation needed]
Champions
edit| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Tru Hope Trailblazers | Garden State Rebels | 97-96 |
| 2012 | Beltway Bombers | The Destroyers | 127-118 |
| 2013 | NYC 524 | Rockville Victors | 118-116 |
| 2014 | Metropolitan All-Stars | NYC 524 | 95-74[3] |
| 2015 | New Jersey Thunder | Rockville Victors | 99-98[4] |
| 2016 | New Jersey Thunder | Hudson Valley Kingz | 100-99 |
| 2017 | Beltway Bombers | APBL United | 123-105 |
| 2018 | Delaware Eastern Shore Generals | APBL United | 128-127 |
| 2019 | Beltway Bombers | New Jersey Thunder | 126-105 (OT) |
Notable players
editLonny Baxter, Rockville Victors
Adrian Bowie, Bay Area Shuckers[5]
William "Smush" Parker, NYC 524
Chaz Williams, Brooklyn Blazers
References
edit- ^ "American Professional Basketball League Announces League Structure". HoopCoach.org. October 18, 2012. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014.
- ^ "US Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings". US Basket. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- ^ "All-Stars are APBL champions". USBasket.com. May 6, 2014.
- ^ "New Jersey Thunder are crowned champions". USBasket.com. May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Out of the Shell: Interviewing Adrian Bowie". Testudo Times. June 30, 2013.