————–PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE
The Premier Basketball League was launched in January 2008. It folded after the 2017 season. The league was essentially created by a decision from 8 teams in the American Basketball Association to defect as a result of disagreements with the latter’s CEO, Joe Newman. Two other franchises joined the new league. The league’s board of directors had voted out Newman as CEO over his financial handling of operations and he responded by using his shares to remove the board. After he refused to reschedule an ABA playoff game and ordered the Rochester Razorsharks to forfeit a game, the Rochester and Wilmington Sea Dawgs ownership groups founded the PBL. The business model was structured so that teams entering the initial season did not have to pay an entrance fee and all travel would be covered by the league.
–YR—-NO—–REGULAR SEASON—————POSTSEASON——————————————–COACH
| 07-08 | 10 | Rochester 142 Arkansas 112 | ||
| 08-09 | Rochester 152 Battle Creek 115 | |||
| 09-10 | Lawton-Fort Sill d’d Rochester 106-110; 95-84; 124-108 | |||
| 10-11 | Rochester d’d Lawton-Fort Sill 2g-1 | |||
| 11-12 | 11 | Central Illinois d’d Rochester 2g-0 | ||
| 12-13 | Bloomington d’d Rochester 2g-0 | |||
| 13-14 | Rochester d’d Indianapolis 100-99; 99-103; 110-86 | |||
| 14-15 | Rochester d’d Lake Michigan 122-97; 135-118 | |||
| 15-16 | Rochester d’d Lake Michigan 97-91; 93-92 | |||
| 16-17 | Rochester d’d Kentucky 88-91; 112-100; 95-94 |
2007-08
In the postseason playoffs, in the East Division opening round: …………………………………………………… 5th-seeded Maryland clipped 2nd-seeded Wilmington 125-112. …………………………………………………… 3rd-seeded Reading dumped 4th-seeded Jacksonville 135-119.
In the East Division semis, 3rd-seeded Reading dispatched 5th-seeded Maryland 105-96.
In the East Division final, top-seeded Rochester clubbed 3rd-seeded Reading 100-76.
In the West Division opening round: …………………………………………………… 2nd-seeded Arkansas dispatched 5th-seeded Chicago 115-102. …………………………………………………… 3rd-seeded Rockford dispatched 4th-seeded Dallas 121-108.
In the West semis, 2nd-seeded Arkansas edged 3rd-seeded Rockford 112-108.
In the West final, 2nd-seeded Arkansas stunned top-seeded Quad City 102-93.
In the league championship, Rochester smacked Arkansas 142-112.
Canadian participation:
The Montreal Sasquatch were granted an expansion team for the inaugural season but folded midway through the campaign.
The Toronto Lazers were granted an expansion team but were removed from the league and did not play any games.
2008-09
Prior to the start season, six more former American Basketball Association team defeated to the PBL. On May 9th, 2009, the Manchester Millrats and the 2006–07 and 2007–08 ABA champion Vermont Frost Heaves defected. On May 20, the inactive Detroit Panthers resurrected themselves and joined the league. On May 5, the Quebec Kebs joined the league. On June 5, the Continental Basketball Association’s Augusta Grooved joined the club. On June 23, the former ABA member Halifax Rainmen joined the ranks. On July 31, the Battle Creek Knights defected from the International Basketball League.
In the postseason play-in game, the 4th-seeded Wilmington Sea Dawgs defeated the 5th-seeded Vermont Frost Heaves 96-90.
In the semis, the top-seeded Battle Creek Knights defeated the 4th-seeded Wilmington Sea-Dawgs 108-112; 111-90; 119-112 (2g-1).
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Rochester Razorsharks defeated the 3rd-seeded Manchester Millrats 125-110; 110-116; 119-112 (2g-1)
In the sudden-death championship final, the 2nd-seeded Rochester Razorsharks bombed the top-seeded Battle Creek Knights 152-115. The finals had been scheduled to be a best-of-three but shortly before the start of the series, the league changed it to a sudden-death affair.
Canadian rosters:
Halifax Rainmen: Eric Crookshank, Brian Silverhorn, Jimmy Twyman, David Bailey, Rob Sanders, Cordell Jeanty, Kevin Hammack, Tyronne McNeal, Rodney Mayes, Glen Dandridge, Zach Ramey, Tony Bennett, A.J. Millien, coach Rick Lewis (turfed mid-season), coach Les Berry, assistant Shannon Hanson
In the entry draft, the Rainmen selected ex-Acadia all-star Walter Moyse. But they could not come to terms with the former Axeman.
On January 14, 2009, the Rainmen suspended Eric Crookshank for the season, with pay, following disputes with coach Rick Lewis. In early February, Lewis was turfed and briefly replaced by assistant Shannon Hanson. Crookshank was reinstated the and former Acadia coach Les Berry was hired.
Millien, who’d been picked up late in the campaign, was chosen the league’s newcomer of the year. Bennett, also signed late in the season, was named to the league’s all-defensive team.
Quebec Kebs: John Ruffus (selected in Montreal Sasquatch dispersal draft), Jamaal Wise (via trade from Manchester)
Montreal Sasquatch:
The Montreal Sasquatch were granted an expansion franchise to the PBL for the 2008-09 campaign but on February 5th, 2009, the franchise was revoked because players weren’t being paid. A dispersal draft of Sasquatch players was held. On February 11th, another group took ownership of the team, calling it “Team Montreal” as original owner Real Bourassa retained the rights to the name Sasquatch.
The Sasquatch were one of four teams in the PBL Atlantic divisions and the games they’d played prior to the revoking of the franchise were treated as forfeits.
Sasquatch roster before being removed from the league: Canadians Manix Auriantal, Bobby Miller, Louis-Patrick Levros, Denburk Reid and Kevin Dulude, along with Randi Gill, Lantrice Green, Buster Perkins, Steve Pellan, Quilninious Randall, Jamaal Wise, John Daryl Ruffus, and coach Alejandro Hasbani
Sasquatch roster after being reconstituted following the ownership change:
Canadians Shawn Corbin, Denburk Reid, Bobby Miller and Louis-Patrick Levros, along with Todd Tinkhalm, Kevin John, John Bethia, Frank Filoa, Kevin Benjamin, Buster Perkins, Mario Kinsey and David Dubois, coach Tito Destin
2009-10
In the postseason semis, the top-seeded Lawton-Fort Sill Calvalry defeated the 4th-seeded Halifax Rainmen 108-104; 135-104 (2g-0).
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Rochester Razorsharks defeated the 3rd-seeded Puerto Rico Capitanes 119-95; 132-108 (2g-0).
In the finals, the top-seeded Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry defeated the 2nd-seeded Rochester Razorsharks 106-110ot; 95-84; 124-108 (2g-1).
After the season, the Manchester, New Hampshire team relocated to Saint John, New Brunswick, to become the Saint John Mill Rats.
Canadian rosters:
Halifax Rainmen: Eric Crookshank, Tony Bennett, John Strickland, Desmond Ferguson, coach Les Berry
Quebec Kebs:
2010-11
Prior to the start of the campaign, the Manchester Millrats relocated to Saint John, New Brunswick, becoming the Saint John Mill Rats.
In the postseason semis, the top-seeded Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry defeated the Halifax Rainmen x-x; x-x (2g-0).
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Rochester Razorsharks defeated the 2nd-seeded Quebec Kebs x-x; x-x; x-x (2g-1).
In the finals, the 3rd-seeded Rochester Razorsharks defeated the top-seeded Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry x-x; x-x; x-x (2g-1).
After the season, the Halifax Rainmen, Quebec Kebs and Saint John Mill Rats left the league to join the newly-formed National Basketball League of Canada.
Canadian teams:
Halifax Rainmen: Eric Crookshank, Desmond Ferguson, Kavon Jones, Josh Dollard, Tajuan Porter, Mike Mercer, Marshall Brown, Tommy Mitchell, James ‘Boo’ Jackson, Kirk Snyder (played 3 games before being waived), coach Les Berry (resigned midway through the season), coach Mike Evans
Outraged over a league decision to crown the Rochester RazorSharks as PBL champions over the Lawton Fort-Sill Cavalry, and with controversies over the officiating of games (New York officials travelled to cover games in Halifax, ostensibly because the Razorbacks shared a common owner with the PBL), Rainmen owner Andre Levingston said “I am appalled by the officiating that took place during the playoffs, and am ashamed of the PBL’s operations this season. I want nothing but the best for our city, our fans, our sponsors, and our players, and I can say with confidence that the best is no longer found in the PBL.”
On May 12, 2011, the Rainmen, Saint John Mill Rats, and Quebec Kebs left the league, one hour after the playoffs ended, to become founding members of the National Basketball League of Canada.
Quebec Kebs:
Saint John Mill Rats:
2011-12
In the finals, Central Illinois defeated the Rochester Razorsharks x-x; x-x (2g-0). Or sudden death, 101-80.
2012-13
The league merged with the Independent Basketball Association to become the IBA-PBL.
In the postseason semis, the Rochester Razorsharks defeated the Sauk Valley Predators 2g-0.
In the other semi, the Bloomington Flex defeated the Indiana Diesels 2g-0.
In the finals, the Rochester Razorsharks defeated the Bloomington Flex 2g-0.
2013-14
In the championship finals, the Rochester Razorsharks defeated the Indiana Diesels 100-99; 99-103; 110-86 (2g-1).
2014-15
In the championship finals, the East division champ Rochester Razorsharks defeated the West division champ Lake Michigan Admirals 122-97; 135-118 (2g-0).
2015-16
The league absorbs the Tobacco Road Basketball Conference.
In the champion finals, the Rochester Razorsharks defeated the Lake Michigan Admirals 97-91; 93-92 (2g-0).
defeated the Rochester Razorsharks
2016-17
In the championship finals, the Rochester Razorsharks defeated the Kentucky Mavericks 88-91; 112-100; 95-94 (2g-1).
After the season, the league folded.
| YEAR | PLAYER OF THE YEAR | COACH OF THE YEAR |
| 07-08 | Jeremy Bell – Arkansas | Rod Baker – Rochester |
| 08-09 | Keith Friel – Rochester | Rod Baker – Rochester/Terry Sare – Battle Creek |
| 09-10 | DeAnthony Bowden – Lawton-Fort Sill | Michael Ray Richardson – Lawton-Fort Sill |
| 10-11 | Quinnel Brown – Quebec | Rob Spon – Quebec |
| 11-12 | Perry Petty – Central Illinois | A.J. Guyton – Central Illinois |
| 12-13 | Jemal Farmer – Bloomington | A.J. Guyton – Bloomington |
| 13-14 | Bryant Austin – Lima | Aaron Hogg – Indianapolis |
| 14-15 | Courtney Blackmore – Lake Michigan | Rob Spon – Rochester |
| 15-16 | ||
| 16-17 |
| YEAR | POSTSEASON MVP | ROOKIE OF THE YEAR |
| 07-08 | Keith Friel – Rochester | |
| 08-09 | Keith Friel/Sammy Monroe – Rochester | |
| 09-10 | Elvin Mims – Lawton-Fort Sill | Eric Gilchrese – Halifax and Manchester |
| 10-11 | Melvin Council – Rochester | Todd McCoy – Rochester |
| 11-12 | Perry Petty – Central Illinois | |
| 12-13 | Jemal Farmer – Bloomington | Josiah Whitehead – Bloomington |
| 13-14 | Jerice Crouch – Rochester | Jamaal Francis – Lynchburg |
| 14-15 | Corey Allmond/Jerice Crouch – Rochester | Josh Chichester – Grand Rapids |
| 15-16 | Melvin Council – Rochester | Michael Davenport – Jamestown |
| 16-17 |
| YEAR | SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR | DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| 07-08 | ||
| 08-09 | Alex Harper – Wilmington | Jonas Pierre – Quebec/Al Stewart – Manchester |
| 09-10 | Melvin Council – Rochester | Eric Crookshank – Halifax |
| 10-11 | Eddie Smith – Lawton-Fort Sill | Eric Crookshank – Halifax |
| 11-12 | Rodney Edgerson – Central Illinois | Marcel Anderson – Chicago |
| 12-13 | Darin Mency – Rochester | Nate Fuquz – Bloomington |
| 13-14 | John Hart – Indianapolis | Courtney Blackmore – Lake Michigan |
| 14-15 | Kyle Meyer – Lima | Troy Franklin – Lake Michigan |
| 15-16 | Melvin Council – Rochester | |
| 16-17 |