Four Spanish Basketball League Clubs Leave Meeting, Threaten Breakaway

Spanish Basketball League (ACB) clubs met on Tuesday in Barcelona "to address the future of the league," according to Ricardo González of AS. However, "not only did the clubs not reach an agreement, but Real Madrid, Barcelona, Baskonia and Unicaja walked out of the meeting in a threatening tone:" indicating that they could leave the ACB and "create their own competition if the positions remain radically distant." For these teams, which will compete in the EuroLeague next season, "a reduction to 16 teams, or even to 14, and greater economic control is necessary." Those clubs walked out before a vote on a proposal by Valencia that "called for a system of balanced economic distribution and 18 teams -- one more than now -- and without playoffs" (AS, 5/9).