# 1997 Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol

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.

## 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 |
| Argentina | Andino Sport Club |
| Argentina | Atenas |
| Argentina | Olimpia |
| Bolivia | Ingavi de La Paz |
| Brazil | Corinthians |
| Brazil | Cougar Franca |
| Brazil | Corinthians de Santa Cruz do Sul |
| Chile | Español de Talca |
| Chile | Deportivo Petrox |
| Colombia | Paisas de Medellín |
| Colombia | Piratas de Bogotá |
| Paraguay | Sol de América |
| Peru | Deportivo SIPESA |
| Peru | Regatas Lima |
| Venezuela | Gaiteros del Zulia |

## Group stage
### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | Qualification | OLI | PET | SOL | ING |
| 1 | Olimpia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | Advances to final stage | — | 109–88 | 105–86 | 151–88 |
| 2 | Deportivo Petrox | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | Advances to final stage | 83–97 | — | 92–99 | 127–89 |
| 3 | Sol de América | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | | 94–102 | 87–105 | — | 101–90 |
| 4 | Ingavi de La Paz | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | | 101–114 | 91–106 | 120–113 | — |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | Qualification | FRA | PAI | GAI |
| 1 | Cougar Franca | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | Advances to final stage | — | 118–83 | w/o |
| 2 | Paisas de Medellín | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Advances to final stage | 78–108 | — | w/o |
| 3 | Gaiteros del Zulia | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | | 76–86 | 92–78 | — |
* ↑ Gaiteros withdrew from the tournament after playing two matches.

### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | Qualification | COR | AND | REG | ESP |
| 1 | Corinthians | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 | Advances to final stage | — | 99–92 | 106–84 | 123–122 |
| 2 | Sport Club Andino | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 | Advances to final stage | 87–81 | — | 94–69 | 110–81 |
| 3 | Regatas Lima | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | | 81–74 | 62–96 | — | 97–73 |
| 4 | Español de Talca | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | | 80–81 | 103–94 | 54–56 | — |

### Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | Qualification | ATE | PIR | COS | SIP |
| 1 | Atenas | 7 | 6 | 1 | 13 | Advances to final stage | — | 103–84 | 98–82 | 105–46 |
| 2 | Piratas de Bogotá | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 | Advances to final stage | 57–77 | — | 87–79 | 85–77 |
| 3 | Corinthians de Santa Cruz do Sul | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | | 91–103 | w/o | — | 104–77 |
| 4 | Deportivo SIPESA | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | | 72–86 | 65–96 | 86–96 | — |

## Final stage

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Grand Finals | Grand Finals |
| Atenas | 2 | | |
| Paisas de Medellín | 0 | | |
| Paisas de Medellín | 0 | Atenas | 2 |
| | | Olimpia | 1 |
| Olimpia | 2 | Olimpia | 1 |
| Sport Club Andino | 1 | | | | |
| Sport Club Andino | 1 | | | Atenas | 2 |
| | | | | Corinthians | 1 |
| Corinthians | 2 | | | Corinthians | 1 |
| Deportivo Petrox | 0 | | | | |
| Deportivo Petrox | 0 | Corinthians | 2 | | |
| | | Cougar Franca | 0 |
| Cougar Franca | 2 | Cougar Franca | 0 |
| Piratas de Bogotá | 1 | | |

## 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