Illustrative image taken from ACN

Havana, January 29 (RHC)-- The start of the 2023 Superior Basketball League (LSB) has been postponed to a date yet to be defined, so it will no longer begin in mid-February, confirmed Cuban basketball officials.

The tournament was originally scheduled for February 13 and 14, but difficulties with the lodging of athletes and other people involved will prevent, for the time being, the competitive start.

The methodological preparation course, the technical congress and the selection of reinforcements were also postponed.

Among the men, the competition groups eight teams in a round-robin format, in which the four best teams qualify for the play-offs and will face each other in crossed semifinals (1-4 and 2-3) in a series of five games to win three.

Before the postponement of the start of the LSB, the crossings were to begin on April 16 at the home of the occupants of places three and four, with two clashes, to close at the home of the owners of the first two places in the preliminary stage.

Photo: Juventud Rebelde

The men's game will be played by the current champions Ciego de Avila, along with Sancti Spiritus, runner-up in the last edition, Capitalinos, Santiago de Cuba, Artemisa, Villa Clara, Mayabeque and Las Tunas.

Among the women's teams, a three-round tournament will be played in groups of three rounds and several scenarios; while the keys will be made up of four teams that will face each rival in the first round in a double match.

Then, in the second and third phases, they will face each other in single matches until the four qualifiers for the post-season are defined, which will have the same format as in the men's competition.

The reigning champions Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, second place, Capitalinas, Ciego de Ávila, Sancti Spíritus, Pinar del Río, Villa Clara and Camagüey are the groups enrolled in the LSB for women.