The 1997 Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol, or 1997 FIBA South American League, was the second edition of the second-tier tournament for professional basketball clubs from South America. The tournament began on 18 February 1997 and finished on 9 May 1997. Argentine club Atenas won the tournament, defeating Brazilian club Corinthians in the Grand Finals.Efemérides: Atenas campeón de la Liga Sudamericana 1997HISTORIA- A quince aNos del historico tercer puesto de Atenas en Paris - liforbasquet.com
Format Teams were split into three groups of four teams each and one group of three teams, and played each other in a home-and-away round-robin format. The top two teams from each group advanced to the final stage, a best-of-three direct playoff elimination where the champion was decided.
Teams Country Team Andino Sport Club Atenas Olimpia Ingavi de La Paz Corinthians Cougar Franca Corinthians de Santa Cruz do Sul Español de Talca Deportivo Petrox Paisas de Medellín Piratas de Bogotá Sol de América Deportivo SIPESA Regatas Lima Gaiteros del Zulia
Group stage Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Final stage
Finals series The matches were played on 1, 8 and 9 May 1997.
Corinthians - Atenas 85-82 Atenas - Corinthians 97-98 Corinthians - Atenas 80-98
Finals rosters Atenas Cordoba: Marcelo Milanesio, Greg Dennis, Thomas Jordan, Fabricio Oberto, Diego Osella - Héctor Campana, Leandro Palladino. Coach: Rubén Magnano
Corinthians: Luiz Augusto Zanon, Robyn Davis, Oscar Schmidt, Brasilia, Caio Silveira. Coach: Zé Boquinha
Season MVP Greg Dennis
References
1997 South American League for Men's Clubs, FIBA Archive. Retrieved 18 May 2018.