ABA League First Division
Season2018–19
DurationSeptember 28, 2018March 17, 2019
(Regular season)
March 23, 2019April 22, 2019
(Playoffs)
Number of games143
Number of teams12
TV partner(s)Arena Sport, O2.TV
Regular season
Top seedCrvena zvezda
Season MVPGeorgia (country) Goga Bitadze [1]
RelegatedSlovenia Petrol Olimpija
Finals
ChampionsSerbia Crvena zvezda mts (4th title)
  Runners-upMontenegro Budućnost VOLI
SemifinalistsCroatia Cedevita
Serbia Partizan NIS
Finals MVPUnited States Billy Baron [2]
Awards
Top ProspectGeorgia (country) Goga Bitadze [3]
Statistical leaders
Points Serbia Dragan Apić 21.29
Rebounds Croatia Luka Božić 7.23
Assists Slovenia Matic Rebec 5.84
Index Rating Serbia Dragan Apić 29.50
Records
Biggest home winCrvena zvezda 97–54 Budućnost
(22 April 2019)
Biggest away winMornar 57–90 Crvena zvezda
(9 February 2019)
Highest scoringIgokea 115–105 Olimpija
(16 November 2018)
Winning streakCrvena zvezda
16 games
Losing streakOlimpija / Mornar
5 games
Highest attendance8,000
Zadar 92–97 Partizan
(19 January 2019)
Lowest attendance500
Igokea 91–73 Krka
(26 October 2018)
Krka 69–71 Igokea
(18 January 2019)
Cedevita 94–80 Mornar
(15 March 2019)
FMP 73–72 Partizan
(16 March 2019)
Total attendance384,820[1]
Average attendance2,691[1]
All statistics correct as of April 22, 2019.

The 2018–19 ABA League First Division is the 18th season of the ABA League with 12 teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia participating in it. It is the first time since the 2011–12 season that there are no participants from North Macedonia.

Format changes

On March 13, 2018, the Adriatic League Assembly decided to abolish the National standings and, as of the 2018–19 season, participants are determined only based on the results in the competitions under the umbrella of the Adriatic League (First Division and Second Division). Promotion and relegation will now be based on the First and Second Division. The last place team in the First Division is relegated to the Second Division, while the winner of the Second Division is promoted. Also, as of the 2018–19 season, the 11th placed team of the 2018–19 First Division season and the runners-up of the 2018–19 Second Division season will play in a Relegation Playoff for a spot in the 2019–20 First Division season. The format of the Qualifiers will be best of three, while the home court advantage will be given to the team that played in the First Division in the previous season.[2]

The maximum number of clubs from one country in the First Division is five. The last placed club in the First Division will have a guaranteed place in the Second Division in the following season. The confirmed competition system shall not be changed until the end of the 2024–25 season, if there are no significant changes in the European basketball by then.[2]

Teams

Promotion and relegation

A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 11 sides from the 2017–18 season and one promoted from the 2017–18 Second Division.

Team promoted from Second Division
Team relegated to Second Division

Venues and locations

Location of teams in the 2018–19 ABA League First Division
Team Home city Arena Capacity
Montenegro Budućnost VOLI Podgorica Morača Sports Center 5,500
Croatia Cedevita Zagreb Dom sportova 3,100
Croatia Cibona Zagreb Dražen Petrović Hall 5,400
Serbia Crvena zvezda mts Belgrade Aleksandar Nikolić Hall 5,878
Serbia FMP Belgrade Železnik Hall 3,000
Bosnia and Herzegovina Igokea Aleksandrovac Laktaši Sports Hall 3,050
Slovenia Krka Novo Mesto Leon Štukelj Hall 2,500
Serbia Mega Bemax Sremska Mitrovica Pinki Sports Hall 2,500
Montenegro Mornar Bar Topolica Sport Hall 2,625
Serbia Partizan NIS Belgrade Aleksandar Nikolić Hall 5,878
Slovenia Petrol Olimpija Ljubljana Arena Stožice 12,480
Croatia Zadar Zadar Krešimir Ćosić Hall 7,997

Personnel and sponsorship

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Budućnost VOLI Croatia Jasmin Repeša Montenegro Suad Šehović Spalding VOLI / Tea Medica
Cedevita Croatia Slaven Rimac Bosnia and Herzegovina Andrija Stipanović Adidas Cedevita / INA
Cibona Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivan Velić Croatia Marin Rozić Visual Erste Bank
Crvena zvezda mts Serbia Milan Tomić Serbia Branko Lazić Nike mts
FMP Serbia Vladimir Jovanović Serbia Radoš Šešlija Champion FMP
Igokea Serbia Dragan Nikolić Serbia Vuk Radivojević GBT m:tel
Krka Slovenia Simon Petrov Slovenia Domen Bratož Žolna šport Krka
Mega Bemax Serbia Dejan Milojević Montenegro Ognjen Čarapić Adidas Bemax / Tehnomanija
Mornar Montenegro Mihailo Pavićević Montenegro Marko Mijović Armani epcg
Partizan NIS Italy Andrea Trinchieri Serbia Novica Veličković Under Armour NIS / mts
Petrol Olimpija Slovenia Jure Zdovc Slovenia Gregor Hrovat Peak Petrol
Zadar Croatia Ante Nazor Croatia Šime Špralja Visual OTP Bank / Crodux

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing managerDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced withDate of appointmentRef.
IgokeaBosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Bajić2 April 2018Off-seasonBosnia and Herzegovina Žarko Milaković2 April 2018[3]
Crvena zvezda mtsSerbia Dušan Alimpijević8 May 2018Serbia Milenko Topić8 May 2018[4]
CedevitaSlovenia Jure Zdovc6 June 2018Spain Sito Alonso8 June 2018[5][6]
CibonaCroatia Ante Nazor6 June 2018Bosnia and Herzegovina Ivan Velić8 June 2018[7][8]
ZadarCroatia Aramis Naglić21 June 2018Slovenia Aleš Pipan28 June 2018[9][10]
Crvena zvezda mtsSerbia Milenko TopićJuly 2018Serbia Milan Tomić13 July 2018[11][12]
IgokeaBosnia and Herzegovina Žarko MilakovićJuly 2018Serbia Nenad Trajković14 July 2018[13][14]
ZadarSlovenia Aleš Pipan23 October 201812th (0–4)Croatia Ante Nazor23 October 2018[15][16]
CedevitaSpain Sito Alonso25 October 20189th (1–3)Croatia Slaven Rimac25 October 2018[17]
Partizan NISSerbia Nenad Čanak26 October 20187th (2–3)Italy Andrea Trinchieri1 November 2018[18][19]
IgokeaSerbia Nenad Trajković5 November 20189th (2–4)Bosnia and Herzegovina Žarko Milaković5 November 2018[20]
Petrol OlimpijaSlovenia Zoran Martič19 November 201811th (2–6)Serbia Saša Nikitović19 November 2018[21]
IgokeaBosnia and Herzegovina Žarko Milaković24 December 201810th (4–8)Serbia Dragan Nikolić24 December 2018[22]
Budućnost VOLISerbia Aleksandar Džikić29 December 20183rd (8–4)Croatia Jasmin Repeša30 December 2018[23][24]
Petrol OlimpijaSerbia Saša Nikitović19 February 201910th (6–13)Slovenia Jure Zdovc19 February 2019[25]

Regular season

The season began on September 28, 2018. The regular season ended on March 17, 2019.[26]

League table

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Serbia Crvena zvezda mts 22 21 1 1875 1517 +358 43 Advance to the playoffs
2 Croatia Cedevita 22 16 6 1924 1769 +155 38[lower-alpha 1]
3 Montenegro Budućnost VOLI 22 16 6 1783 1636 +147 38[lower-alpha 1]
4 Serbia Partizan NIS 22 14 8 1779 1663 +116 36
5 Serbia Mega Bemax 22 10 12 1802 1880 78 32[lower-alpha 2]
6 Serbia FMP 22 10 12 1736 1786 50 32[lower-alpha 2]
7 Croatia Cibona 22 9 13 1744 1810 66 31
8 Bosnia and Herzegovina Igokea 22 8 14 1798 1869 71 30[lower-alpha 3]
9 Montenegro Mornar 22 8 14 1780 1907 127 30[lower-alpha 3]
10 Slovenia Krka 22 7 15 1587 1776 189 29[lower-alpha 4]
11 Croatia Zadar 22 7 15 1803 1900 97 29[lower-alpha 4] Qualification to the relegation playoffs
12 Slovenia Petrol Olimpija 22 6 16 1685 1783 98 28 Relegation to the Second Division
Source: ABA League
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Cedevita 1–1, 1.02; Budućnost VOLI 1–1, 0.98
  2. 1 2 Mega Bemax 1–1, 1.06; FMP 1–1, 0.94
  3. 1 2 Igokea 2–0, 1.17; Mornar 0–2, 0.85
  4. 1 2 Krka 1–1, 1.05; Zadar 1–1, 0.95

Positions by round

First place & advance to the playoffs
Advance to the playoffs
Qualification to the relegation playoffs
Relegated
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Serbia Crvena zvezda mts4211111111111111111111
Croatia Cedevita8679586444322222232322
Montenegro Budućnost VOLI1443333222233333323233
Serbia Partizan NIS5355754555555444444444
Serbia Mega Bemax6122222333444555555555
Serbia FMP38681065666766668766666
Croatia Cibona91011108479108679786889777
Bosnia and Herzegovina Igokea7781169118771010710119910119108
Montenegro Mornar1112969109121211111189776781089
Slovenia Krka129107111212101112121212121212121212121210
Croatia Zadar10111212121110781099118101111978911
Slovenia Petrol Olimpija25344781199881011910101110111112
Source: ABA League

Results

Home \ Away BUD CED CIB CZV FMP IGO KRK MEG MOR PAR OLI ZAD
Budućnost VOLI 80–78 91–82 71–87 79–59 96–70 86–64 91–85 102–71 75–71 85–69 75–69
Cedevita 63–58 89–68 84–68 87–85 100–80 104–75 86–95 94–80 84–87 95–82 83–72
Cibona 83–77 78–75 54–76 90–71 84–86 99–71 89–71 84–73 59–83 87–70 66–97
Crvena zvezda mts 86–72 94–79 78–68 79–62 96–75 80–66 100–76 104–71 70–68 89–61 97–70
FMP 70–87 81–95 93–88 72–81 87–78 93–65 106–89 82–84 73–72 64–63 99–86
Igokea 78–85 75–78 87–69 77–79 74–85 91–73 79–80 81–60 84–92 115–105 100–82
Krka 69–64 82–71 90–100 66–96 71–76 69–71 82–69 80–76 80–76 62–59 77–78
Mega Bemax 70–77 101–107 82–80 68–78 89–61 93–88 80–72 82–80 74–81 81–77 85–97
Mornar 95–99 102–103 91–78 57–90 79–69 97–103 86–77 80–84 97–94 80–75 89–81
Partizan NIS 76–67 71–76 85–67 71–77 83–77 67–57 87–55 98–86 75–73 82–79 85–95
Petrol Olimpija 72–77 70–98 78–80 60–83 88–86 92–69 70–69 91–78 87–66 66–72 91–81
Zadar 69–89 85–95 95–91 69–87 79–85 95–80 64–72 80–84 83–93 92–97 84–80
Updated to match(es) played on March 17, 2019. Source: ABA League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Playoffs

The semi-finals will be played in a best-of-three format, while the Finals were played in a best-of-five format. Playoffs will begin on 23 March 2019 and planned to end by 22 April 2019.[26]

Bracket

 
SemifinalsFinals
 
      
 
March 23 – April 6
 
 
Serbia Crvena zvezda mts2
 
April 12 – April 22
 
Serbia Partizan NIS1
 
Serbia Crvena zvezda mts3
 
March 25 – April 7
 
Montenegro Budućnost VOLI2
 
Croatia Cedevita1
 
 
Montenegro Budućnost VOLI2
 


2018–19 ABA League Champions
Serbia
Crvena zvezda mts
4th title

Semifinals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Crvena zvezda mts Serbia 2–1 Serbia Partizan NIS 106–101 67–70 84–63
Cedevita Croatia 1–2 Montenegro Budućnost VOLI 90–83 72–87 73–78

Finals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3Game 4Game 5
Crvena zvezda mts Serbia 3–2 Montenegro Budućnost VOLI 91–72 107–69 72–8080–8497–54

Relegation playoffs

As of the 2018–19 season, the 11th placed team of the 2018–19 First Division season and the runners-up of the 2018–19 Second Division season will play in the Qualifiers for a spot in the 2019–20 First Division season.

As the team coming from the ABA League, Zadar had the home court advantage in the first and third game of the series, while MZT was the host of the second game of the Qualifiers series.[27] Zadar won the series 2−1 and kept its First League status.[28]

Teams

Results

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Zadar Croatia 2–1 North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 83–89 78–77 86−75

Statistical leaders

As of 22 April 2019

PIR

Pos Player Club PIR
1 Serbia Dragan Apić FMP 29.50
2 Croatia Luka Božić Zadar 21.68
3 Serbia Sava Lešić Igokea 18.05
4 Croatia Tomislav Zubčić Igokea 17.57
5 Croatia Dominik Mavra Krka 17.29

Points

Pos Player Club PPG
1 Serbia Dragan Apić FMP 21.29
2 Croatia Tomislav Zubčić Igokea 19.00
3 Georgia (country) Jacob Pullen Cedevita 17.40
4 Croatia Dominik Mavra Krka 16.29
5 Serbia Sava Lešić Igokea 15.18

Rebounds

Pos Player Club RPG
1 Croatia Luka Božić Zadar 7.23
2 Serbia Dragan Apić FMP 7.14
3 Serbia Uroš Luković Mornar 7.00
4 Nigeria Michael Ojo Crvena zvezda 6.43
5 Serbia Sava Lešić Igokea 6.41

Assists

Pos Player Club APG
1 Slovenia Matic Rebec FMP 5.84
2 United States Joe Ragland Crvena zvezda 5.73
3 Croatia Dominik Mavra Krka 5.71
4 Bosnia and Herzegovina Alex Renfroe Partizan 5.54
5 United States Scottie Reynolds Olimpija 5.50

Source: ABA League Archived 2017-12-28 at the Wayback Machine

Awards

Pos. Player Team Ref.
MVP
CGeorgia (country) Goga BitadzeMontenegro Budućnost VOLI[29]
Finals MVP
SGUnited States Billy BaronSerbia Crvena zvezda mts[30]
Top Prospect
CGeorgia (country) Goga BitadzeMontenegro Budućnost VOLI[31]
Ideal Starting Five
PGUnited States Joe RaglandSerbia Crvena zvezda mts[32]
SGGeorgia (country) Jacob PullenCroatia Cedevita
SFGreece Stratos PerperoglouSerbia Crvena zvezda mts
PFAustralia Jock LandaleSerbia Partizan NIS
CGeorgia (country) Goga BitadzeMontenegro Budućnost VOLI

MVP List

MVP of the Round

Round Player Team PIR
1Serbia Dragan ApićSerbia FMP40
2Serbia Sava LešićBosnia and Herzegovina Igokea30
3Montenegro Nemanja VranješMontenegro Mornar33
4Serbia Uroš LukovićMontenegro Mornar31
5Croatia Luka BožićCroatia Zadar36
6Croatia Luka Božić (2)Croatia Zadar33
7Serbia Stefan PotSerbia FMP39
8Croatia Luka Božić (3)Croatia Zadar36
9United States Jacob PullenCroatia Cedevita43
10Serbia Vanja MarinkovićSerbia Partizan32
11Serbia Marko LjubičićCroatia Cibona30
12Serbia Dragan Apić (2)Serbia FMP34
13Serbia Dragan Apić (3)Serbia FMP42
14Croatia Luka Božić (4)Croatia Zadar25
15United States Elgin CookCroatia Cedevita32
16Croatia Filip BundovićCroatia Cibona29
17Montenegro Nemanja Vranješ (2)Montenegro Mornar29
18Serbia Stefan Pot (2)Serbia FMP35
19Austria Luka AšćerićSerbia Mega Bemax35
20Croatia Dominik MavraSlovenia Krka37
21Georgia (country) Goga BitadzeMontenegro Budućnost VOLI31
22Serbia Danilo AnđušićBosnia and Herzegovina Igokea30
SF1Serbia Dejan DavidovacSerbia Crvena zvezda mts26
SF2Serbia Vanja Marinković (2)Serbia Partizan22
SF3Bosnia and Herzegovina Nemanja GordićMontenegro Budućnost VOLI16
F1United States Billy BaronSerbia Crvena zvezda mts27
F2United States K. C. RiversSerbia Crvena zvezda mts20
F3United States Norris ColeMontenegro Budućnost VOLI20
F4United States Norris Cole (2)Montenegro Budućnost VOLI36
F5United States K. C. Rivers (2)Serbia Crvena zvezda mts21

Source: ABA League

MVP of the Month

Month Player Team Ref.
2018
OctoberGeorgia (country) Goga BitadzeSerbia Mega Bemax[33]
NovemberSerbia Dragan ApićSerbia FMP[34]
DecemberSerbia Dragan Apić (2)Serbia FMP[35]
2019
JanuaryUnited States Marcus PaigeSerbia Partizan[36]
FebruarySerbia Stefan PotSerbia FMP[37]

Attendances

Attendances include playoff games:

Pos Team Total High Low AverageChange
1 Serbia Partizan NIS 66,420 7,920 1,200 5,535 +20.6%
2 Serbia Crvena zvezda mts 73,031 6,858 2,345 4,564 +3.4%
3 Croatia Zadar 48,750 8,000 1,000 4,432 +2.1%
4 Montenegro Budućnost VOLI 55,009 5,860 1,950 3,929 +15.5%
5 Montenegro Mornar 25,400 3,000 1,550 2,309 +8.6%
6 Croatia Cedevita 25,850 5,500 500 1,988 +44.1%
7 Bosnia and Herzegovina Igokea 19,350 3,500 500 1,759 −19.6%
8 Slovenia Petrol Olimpija 16,670 3,500 700 1,515 +6.2%
9 Serbia Mega Bemax 16,080 2,500 1,000 1,462 +1.5%
10 Croatia Cibona 14,740 2,350 590 1,340 −5.2%
11 Slovenia Krka 13,730 2,000 500 1,248 +51.3%1
12 Serbia FMP 9,790 1,400 500 890 −2.6%
League total 384,820 8,000 500 2,691 +5.7%

Updated to games played on April 22, 2019
Source: [1]
Notes:
1: previous season average applied to second division games

Clubs in European competitions

CompetitionTeamProgressResult
EuroLeagueMontenegro Budućnost VOLIRegular season15th (6–24)
EuroCupSerbia Partizan NISTop 16 Group EIncrease(1)4th (2–4)
Serbia Crvena zvezda mtsTop 16 Group GIncrease(1)3rd (2–4)
Croatia CedevitaTop 16 Group HIncrease(1)4th (0–6)
Montenegro MornarRegular season Group D5th (2–8)
Champions LeagueSlovenia Petrol OlimpijaRegular season Group D8th (1–13)

See also

2018–19 domestic competitions
Teams

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Average attendance increases over 2,600 for the second time". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Important decisions confirmed at the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly Session". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  3. "Igokea smenila Bajića i odmah imenovala naslednika". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  4. "NOVI ZVEZDIN TRENER Ko je Milenko Topić, miljenik navijača i čovek koji je pobedio Olimpijakos u Beogradu". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  5. "Razišli se Cedevita i trener Jure Zdovc". gol.dnevnik.hr. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. "Bivši trener Barcelone preuzeo Cedevitu". gol.dnevnik.hr. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  7. "Cibona smijenila trenera: Ante Nazor i zagrebački klub nisu uspjeli dogovoriti nastavak suradnje". sportske.jutarnji.hr. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  8. "Ivan Velić new Cibona head coach". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  9. "Aramis Naglić is no longer head coach of Zadar". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  10. "Zadar appoint Aleš Pipan as new head coach". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  11. "Milan Tomić novi trener KK Crvena zvezda mts!". kkcrvenazvezda.rs. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  12. "TOMIĆ NA TRI GODINE: Crvena zvezda rešila pitanje trenera ugovorom sa legendom Olimpijakosa". novosti.rs. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  13. "Igokea ima novog trenera!". mondo.rs. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  14. "Trajković novi trener Igokee". sportsport.ba. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  15. "Pipan više nije trener Zadra". www.kkzadar.net. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  16. "Ante Nazor returns to Zadar". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  17. "Rimac replaced Alonso at Cedevita bench". www.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  18. "Nenade, hvala!". kkpartizan.rs. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  19. "Trinkjeri tri godine na klupi Partizana!". novosti.rs. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  20. "Zbog loših rezultata: Rastali se Igokea i trener Nenad Trajković". scsport.ba. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  21. "Aleksandar Nikitović is the new Petrol Olimpija head coach". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  22. "Dragan Nikolić is the new head coach of Igokea". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  23. "Aleksandar Džikić is no longer head coach of Budućnost VOLI". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  24. "Jasmin Repeša is the new head coach of Budućnost VOLI". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  25. Tilen Jamnik (19 February 2019). "Vodstvo Olimpije potrdilo: Novi trener je Jure Zdovc" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  26. 1 2 "ABA League is ready for the 2018/19 season". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  27. "ABA League Qualifiers to begin on 17 April". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  28. "Zadar clinch the ticket for the 2019/20 ABA League season". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  29. "2018/19 Regular Season MVP: Goga Bitadze (Budućnost VOLI)". www.aba-liga.com.
  30. "Playoffs MVP: Billy Baron". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  31. "2018/19 Top Prospect: Goga Bitadze (Budućnost VOLI)". www.aba-liga.com.
  32. "Bitadze heads the Ideal Starting Five". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  33. MVP of October: Goga Bitadze (Mega Bemax)
  34. MVP of November: Dragan Apić (FMP)
  35. "MVP of December: Dragan Apić (FMP)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  36. "MVP of January: Marcus Paige (Partizan NIS)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  37. "MVP of February: Stefan Pot (FMP)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
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