The Queen of Cyprus basketball: welcome, AEL Limassol!

The most decorated basketball club from Cyprus – TRIA EKA AEL BC – joins the European North Basketball league.

Cyprus Basketball federation and Cyprus Basketball league were established in 1966.

ECOMMBX Basket League features 10 teams and celebrated its 60 years anniversary in 2026.

Cyprus until recent times successfully competed at the Games of the Small States of Europe, winning nine titles in men`s basketball (1985, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017).

Biggest rivals – Iceland, Luxembourg and Montenegro.

Cyprus also has competed at the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries – known as the Promotion Cup from 1988 until 2007, and the EuroBasket Division C from 2007 until 2011.

Cyprus earned a silver medal in 1990 and 1994, while finishing third in 1988 and 1992.

From 2005 until 2011, Cyprus men competed at the EuroBasket Division B.

In 2025, Cyprus co-hosted EuroBasket together with Finland, Latvia and Poland, entering the prestigious 24 team final round for the first time.

AEL Limassol was founded in 1967 as a part of the historic AEL Limassol multi-sport club and is a proud founding member of the Cyprus Basketball Federation.

AEL Basketball has been at the heart of Cypriot basketball for nearly six decades.

As the club enters its 60th year of basketball, it continues to build on a legacy that has made it one of the most successful sporting institutions in Cyprus.

Revered as “The Queen of Cyprus Basketball,” AEL has captured a record 13 Cyprus Championships, 10 Cyprus Cups and 8 Super Cups.

AEL is not only the most successful basketball club in Cyprus but also the only club in any sport in Cyprus to have won a European title, a distinction it proudly holds to this day.

That historic achievement came in 2003 when the club won the FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup with a perfect, undefeated campaign.

The tournament featured 28 teams, was divided in two conferences – South with 11 teams and North with 17 teams – and had two champions – AEL Limassol and Azovmash Mariupol.

AEL won the Group C with a 6-0 record, defeating Zrinjevac, Brotnjo and Nikol Fert.

The Cypriots won the best-of-two quarterfinal series over Hapoel Galil Elyon, 153-151, to advance to the Final Four, held on February 12-13, 2003, at Limassol.

AEL Limassol defeated Apollon Limassol in the semifinals, 73-52, and won the trophy after a 92-82 success against Igokea Aleksandrovac.

AEL has consistently broken new ground, becoming the first Cypriot basketball team to compete in European competition in 1977 and later reaching two consecutive FIBA EuroCup Final Fours in 2008 and 2009, firmly establishing its reputation in Europe.

Between 2005 and 2008, AEL was also entrusted by FIBA Europe with the organisation of four consecutive FIBA Europe All-Star Games, further underlining the club’s international standing and organisational excellence.

Today, AEL is writing an exciting new chapter in its remarkable story.

After reaching the Balkan International Basketball League Final in 2023 and securing third place in the Cyprus Championship in 2025 and 2026, the club celebrated another historic achievement in 2026 by lifting its 10th Cyprus Cup, ending a 17-year wait for major silverware.

That memorable triumph also made history for European basketball, as Head Coach Kalia Papadopoulou became the first woman to lead a men’s basketball team to a national title—adding yet another landmark achievement to AEL’s proud and ever-evolving legacy.

The home venue is the Nicos Solomonides arena – named after club`s co-founder and president Nicos Solomonides.

Opened on October 26, 2005, with a 2 500 capacity, it`s also used by AEL`s women`s basketball and volleyball clubs.

Nickname – the Cage.

Cyprus is served by the Larnaca International Airport (LCA), located 60 kilometers northeast of Limassol, and the Paphos International Airport (PFO), located 50 kilometers west.

Club's website: www.ael-bc.com