1979–80 National Basketball League season

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1979–80 National Basketball League season
League
Doncaster Ziebart Panthers
National Basketball League seasons
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The 1979–80 Rotary Watches National Basketball League season was the eighth season of the National Basketball League.[1]

The league was sponsored by Rotary Watches for the second consecutive year and Crystal Palace won an unprecedented treble of League, Playoffs and National Cup. Crystal Palace were helped by Alton Byrd, who would become the best known name in British basketball and pick up the season MVP award.[2]

Team changes

Malcolm Chamberlain, the owner of the London Metros uprooted the team, relocating from London to Kingston upon Thames and the Tolworth Recreation Centre, rebranding as Kingston. With their added sponsorship they would be known as Kelly Girls International Kingston. Guildford Pirates, the NBL Division 2 champions, joined the league and following a sponsorship deal would be

Loughborough All-Stars, Exeter St Lukes TSB and Bracknell Bullets
all dropped out.

National League standings

Division One

Pos Team P W L F A Pts
1
Crystal Palace Chevrons
18 18 0 1936 1498 36
2
Doncaster Ziebart Panthers
18 14 4 1751 1673 28
3
Coventry Team Fiat
18 14 4 1788 1644 28
4 Hemel Hempstead Ovaltine 18 12 6 1686 1634 24
5
Kelly Girls International Kingston
18 10 8 1836 1702 20
6
Sunderland Sunblest
18 9 9 1672 1683 18
7
Stockport Belgrade
18 5 13 1763 1874 9
8 Manchester ATS Giants 18 3 15 1533 1754 6
9 Blackpool Pacemakers 18 3 15 1612 1839 6
10 Team Talbot, Guildford Pirates 18 2 16 1592 1873 4

Division Two

Pos Team P W L F A Pts
1 Nottingham 14 11 3 1269 1155 22
2 Camden & Hampstead 14 11 3 1449 1327 22
3 Leeds Larsen Lions 14 11 3 1346 1218 22
4 Brighton 14 8 6 1332 1290 16
5 Exeter St Lukes 14 7 7 1311 1287 14
6 Team Hemeling Birmingham 14 3 11 1334 1467 6
7 Plymouth Panasonic 14 3 11 1261 1396 6
8 Brunel Ducks 14 2 12 1253 1435 4

Rotary Watches playoffs

Semi-finals

venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
March 14, Wembley Arena Doncaster Ziebart Panthers Coventry Team Fiat 84-100
March 14, Wembley Arena Crystal Palace Chevrons Hemel Hempstead Ovaltine 98-75

Third Place

venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
March 15, Wembley Arena Doncaster Ziebart Panthers Hemel Hempstead Ovaltine 84-75

Final

15 March
Crystal Palace Chevrons 9385 Coventry Team Fiat
Pts
:
Mark Saiers 26
Pts: Greg White (MVP) 38

[3]

Butlins
National Cup Final

25 January 1980
Crystal Palace Chevrons 9767 Doncaster Ziebart Panthers
Pts
:
Peter Jeremich 21, Mark Saiers 17
Sheffield

References

See also