While football has long been the dominating force in Spain's sports scene, basketball ("baloncesto," in Spanish) fever has been giving football a run for its money. Spain's ACB (Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto) is not only the top competitive basketball league in Spain but is also considered to be one of the best in the world behind the NBA. Plus, with Spain-bred NBA superstars like Pau Gasol turning heads and
creating even more hype in Spain's basketball scene, Spain has been garnering much more international attention.
Spain's ACB basketball league, organized and regulated by FIBA (International Basketball Federation), consists of 18 professional basketball teams. Each team up against every other team twice - once at home and once away - for a combined 34 season games. The team that comes out with the most victories at the end of Spain's basketball season wins the ACB and is a shoe-in for national tournament play.
