2018–19 ABA League First Division

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.

ABA League First Division
Season2018–19
Teams12
Games played143
DatesSeptember 28, 2018 – March 17, 2019
(Regular season)
March 23, 2019–April 22, 2019
(Playoffs)
TVArena Sport, O2.TV
Final positions
Top seedCrvena zvezda
Champions Crvena zvezda mts (4th title)
Runners-up Budućnost VOLI
Semifinalists Cedevita
Partizan NIS
Relegated Petrol Olimpija
Awards
MVP Goga Bitadze [1]
Finals MVP Billy Baron [2]
Top Prospect Goga Bitadze [3]
Statistical leaders
Index Rating Dragan Apić 29.50
Points Dragan Apić 21.29
Rebounds Luka Božić 7.23
Assists Matic Rebec 5.84
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.

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
Budućnost VOLI Podgorica Morača Sports Center 5,500
Cedevita Zagreb Dom sportova 3,100
Cibona Zagreb Dražen Petrović Hall 5,400
Crvena zvezda mts Belgrade Aleksandar Nikolić Hall 5,878
FMP Belgrade Železnik Hall 3,000
Igokea Aleksandrovac Laktaši Sports Hall 3,050
Krka Novo Mesto Leon Štukelj Hall 2,500
Mega Bemax Sremska Mitrovica Pinki Sports Hall 2,500
Mornar Bar Topolica Sport Hall 2,625
Partizan NIS Belgrade Aleksandar Nikolić Hall 5,878
Petrol Olimpija Ljubljana Arena Stožice 12,480
Zadar Zadar Krešimir Ćosić Hall 7,997

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

Coaching changes
TeamOutgoing managerDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced withDate of appointmentRef.
Igokea Dragan Bajić2 April 2018Off-season Žarko Milaković2 April 2018[3]
Crvena zvezda mts Dušan Alimpijević8 May 2018 Milenko Topić8 May 2018[4]
Cedevita Jure Zdovc6 June 2018 Sito Alonso8 June 2018[5][6]
Cibona Ante Nazor6 June 2018 Ivan Velić8 June 2018[7][8]
Zadar Aramis Naglić21 June 2018 Aleš Pipan28 June 2018[9][10]
Crvena zvezda mts Milenko TopićJuly 2018 Milan Tomić13 July 2018[11][12]
Igokea Žarko MilakovićJuly 2018 Nenad Trajković14 July 2018[13][14]
Zadar Aleš Pipan23 October 201812th (0–4) Ante Nazor23 October 2018[15][16]
Cedevita Sito Alonso25 October 20189th (1–3) Slaven Rimac25 October 2018[17]
Partizan NIS Nenad Čanak26 October 20187th (2–3) Andrea Trinchieri1 November 2018[18][19]
Igokea Nenad Trajković5 November 20189th (2–4) Žarko Milaković5 November 2018[20]
Petrol Olimpija Zoran Martič19 November 201811th (2–6) Saša Nikitović19 November 2018[21]
Igokea Žarko Milaković24 December 201810th (4–8) Dragan Nikolić24 December 2018[22]
Budućnost VOLI Aleksandar Džikić29 December 20183rd (8–4) Jasmin Repeša30 December 2018[23][24]
Petrol Olimpija Saša Nikitović19 February 201910th (6–13) 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 Crvena zvezda mts 22 21 1 1875 1517 +358 43 Advance to the playoffs
2 Cedevita 22 16 6 1924 1769 +155 38[lower-alpha 1]
3 Budućnost VOLI 22 16 6 1783 1636 +147 38[lower-alpha 1]
4 Partizan NIS 22 14 8 1779 1663 +116 36
5 Mega Bemax 22 10 12 1802 1880 −78 32[lower-alpha 2]
6 FMP 22 10 12 1736 1786 −50 32[lower-alpha 2]
7 Cibona 22 9 13 1744 1810 −66 31
8 Igokea 22 8 14 1798 1869 −71 30[lower-alpha 3]
9 Mornar 22 8 14 1780 1907 −127 30[lower-alpha 3]
10 Krka 22 7 15 1587 1776 −189 29[lower-alpha 4]
11 Zadar 22 7 15 1803 1900 −97 29[lower-alpha 4] Qualification to the relegation playoffs
12 Petrol Olimpija 22 6 16 1685 1783 −98 28 Relegation to Second Division
Source: ABA League
Notes:
  1. Cedevita 1–1, 1.02; Budućnost VOLI 1–1, 0.98
  2. Mega Bemax 1–1, 1.06; FMP 1–1, 0.94
  3. Igokea 2–0, 1.17; Mornar 0–2, 0.85
  4. 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
Crvena zvezda mts4211111111111111111111
Cedevita8679586444322222232322
Budućnost VOLI1443333222233333323233
Partizan NIS5355754555555444444444
Mega Bemax6122222333444555555555
FMP38681065666766668766666
Cibona91011108479108679786889777
Igokea7781169118771010710119910119108
Mornar1112969109121211111189776781089
Krka129107111212101112121212121212121212121210
Zadar10111212121110781099118101111978911
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
Main article: 2019 ABA League First Division 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
 
 
 Crvena zvezda mts2
 
April 12 – April 22
 
 Partizan NIS1
 
 Crvena zvezda mts3
 
March 25 – April 7
 
 Budućnost VOLI2
 
 Cedevita1
 
 
 Budućnost VOLI2
 


2018–19 ABA League Champions

Crvena zvezda mts
4th title

Semifinals
Team 1 Series Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg
Crvena zvezda mts 2–1 Partizan NIS 106–101 67–70 84–63
Cedevita 1–2 Budućnost VOLI 90–83 72–87 73–78

Finals
Team 1 Series Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg4th leg5th leg
Crvena zvezda mts 3–2 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 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg
Zadar 2–1 MZT Skopje Aerodrom 83–89 78–77 86−75

Statistical leaders
As of 22 April 2019

PIR

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

Points

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

Rebounds

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

Assists

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

Source: ABA League

Awards
Pos. Player Team Ref.
MVP
C Goga Bitadze Budućnost VOLI[29]
Finals MVP
SG Billy Baron Crvena zvezda mts[30]
Top Prospect
C Goga Bitadze Budućnost VOLI[31]
Ideal Starting Five
PG Joe Ragland Crvena zvezda mts[32]
SG Jacob Pullen Cedevita
SF Stratos Perperoglou Crvena zvezda mts
PF Jock Landale Partizan NIS
C Goga Bitadze Budućnost VOLI

MVP List

MVP of the Round
Round Player Team PIR
1 Dragan Apić FMP40
2 Sava Lešić Igokea30
3 Nemanja Vranješ Mornar33
4 Uroš Luković Mornar31
5 Luka Božić Zadar36
6 Luka Božić (2) Zadar33
7 Stefan Pot FMP39
8 Luka Božić (3) Zadar36
9 Jacob Pullen Cedevita43
10 Vanja Marinković Partizan32
11 Marko Ljubičić Cibona30
12 Dragan Apić (2) FMP34
13 Dragan Apić (3) FMP42
14 Luka Božić (4) Zadar25
15 Elgin Cook Cedevita32
16 Filip Bundović Cibona29
17 Nemanja Vranješ (2) Mornar29
18 Stefan Pot (2) FMP35
19 Luka Ašćerić Mega Bemax35
20 Dominik Mavra Krka37
21 Goga Bitadze Budućnost VOLI31
22 Danilo Anđušić Igokea30
SF1 Dejan Davidovac Crvena zvezda mts26
SF2 Vanja Marinković (2) Partizan22
SF3 Nemanja Gordić Budućnost VOLI16
F1 Billy Baron Crvena zvezda mts27
F2 K. C. Rivers Crvena zvezda mts20
F3 Norris Cole Budućnost VOLI20
F4 Norris Cole (2) Budućnost VOLI36
F5 K. C. Rivers (2) Crvena zvezda mts21

Source: ABA League

MVP of the Month
Month Player Team Ref.
2018
October Goga Bitadze Mega Bemax[33]
November Dragan Apić FMP[34]
December Dragan Apić (2) FMP[35]
2019
January Marcus Paige Partizan[36]
February Stefan Pot FMP[37]

Attendances

Attendances include playoff games:

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Partizan NIS 66,420 7,920 1,200 5,535 +20.6%†
2 Crvena zvezda mts 73,031 6,858 2,345 4,564 +3.4%†
3 Zadar 48,750 8,000 1,000 4,432 +2.1%†
4 Budućnost VOLI 55,009 5,860 1,950 3,929 +15.5%†
5 Mornar 25,400 3,000 1,550 2,309 +8.6%†
6 Cedevita 25,850 5,500 500 1,988 +44.1%†
7 Igokea 19,350 3,500 500 1,759 −19.6%†
8 Petrol Olimpija 16,670 3,500 700 1,515 +6.2%†
9 Mega Bemax 16,080 2,500 1,000 1,462 +1.5%†
10 Cibona 14,740 2,350 590 1,340 −5.2%†
11 Krka 13,730 2,000 500 1,248 +51.3%1
12 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
EuroLeague Budućnost VOLIRegular season15th (6–24)
EuroCup Partizan NISTop 16 Group E(1)4th (2–4)
Crvena zvezda mtsTop 16 Group G(1)3rd (2–4)
CedevitaTop 16 Group H(1)4th (0–6)
MornarRegular season Group D5th (2–8)
Champions League Petrol OlimpijaRegular season Group D8th (1–13)

See also
2018–19 domestic competitions
Teams

References
  1. "Average attendance increases over 2,600 for the second time". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  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. 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. "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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