tournament format, teams and schedule

The national tournament returns with two months of action and seven participating teams, amid the sadness over the departure of Piratas de Bogotá, one of the historic teams of Colombian basketball.

Photo: DPB

Colombian basketball returns to the scene. This October 10, the 2025-II Professional League will officially begin, with the intention of continuing to write new stories on the field, but it also leaves a significant absence: Piratas de Bogotá, one of the most emblematic clubs in the country, will not be able to participate due to economic difficulties.

The Colombian Basketball Federation (FCB) confirmed that the championship will be played until December 10date reserved for an eventual fifth game of the Grand Finale. There will be two months of intense competition in the main coliseums in the country, with seven teams in contention: Caribbean Storm, Cimarrones del Chocó, Motilones del Norte, Paisas de Medellín, Sabios de Manizales, Toros del Valle and Caimanes del Llano.

“In the midst of the sports crisis, one applauds the efforts of the heroes. They criticize our federation a lot, but we have not let the league die. We have not received resources from the state or private companies, we are already going for two years,” said Jorge Armando García, president of the Professional Basketball Division.

Compact and competitive format

The tournament will be structured in four phases. The first, a round robin elimination roundwill be played in a single round, in which each team will face its rivals twice. At the end of that stage, the first two will qualify directly for the semifinals, while the 3rd to 6th places will be measured in the Play-Ina best-of-three series that will determine the other two semifinalists.

Las semi-finals and final They will be played in the best of five games, maintaining the format that has characterized the league in recent years. In total, the tournament could extend until 63 parties in a period of 60 days.

The official venues will be: Cali (Evangelista Mora Coliseum) will host Toros del Valle and Caribbean Storm; Medellín (Iván de Bedout) will be the home of countries; Cúcuta (Toto Hernández) will receive Motilones; Quibdó (The Garden) to Maroons; Manizales (Jorge Arango Uribe Coliseum) to wise; and Villavicencio (Álvaro Mesa Amaya) will be the fort of Llano Caimans.

Pirates, out of competition: a blow to the history of Bogotá basketball

While the rest of the teams are fine-tuning details for the debut, Bogotá was left without representation in the tournament. Piratesan institution with more than three decades of history, failed to gather the necessary resources to compete this season.

José Tapias, founder and main leader of the club, confirmed through tears the news that capital basketball feared: “We tried until the end, but without the partner who was going to help us, and with the accumulated debts of the last campaigns, it is impossible for Pirates to participate in the next championship.”

During the last few weeks, the team's leadership tried to find new sponsors and alliances that would cover operating costs – from the player payroll to the rental of the sports venue – but negotiations fell apart at the last minute. “I only apologize to the people who have supported us because we did everything possible. I hope that the team, in the future, can continue standing,” added Tapias.

The departure of Pirates not only means a setback for the capital, but also a symptom of the structural difficulties faced by professional clubs in Colombiawhere the lack of financing has left other historical ones, such as Titans of Barranquilla or Búcaros of Bucaramangaout of competition in previous editions.

A tournament with new opportunities

With the absence of Pirates, the 2025-II League will be played with seven teamswhich forces an adjustment to the calendar, but also opens the door to new rivalries and protagonisms. The objective of the Federation is to maintain the regularity of the contest and guarantee its national visibility, relying on the broadcast of the games and the strengthening of regional franchises.

The challenge, beyond the title, will be to consolidate a sustainable project. The FCB is committed to the institutional stability of the clubs and the professionalization of the tournament, which in recent years has gained ground in fans and coverage, but which continues to depend largely on the financial support of sponsors.

Official calendar of the Professional Basketball League in Colombia

The ball will bounce again October 10when Colombian basketball writes a new chapter. Seven teams will go for glory, in a season that mixes enthusiasm, talent and the hope that the sport of basketball will continue to grow throughout the country, even with the painful absence of one of its most representative names.

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