2018–19 ABA League Second Division

ABA League Second Division
Season2018–19
DurationSeptember 27, 2018 – March 13, 2019
(Regular season)
March 20, 2019 – April 8, 2019
(Playoffs)
Number of teams12
TV partner(s)Arena Sport
Regular season
Top seedSixt Primorska
RelegatedSerbia Vršac
Finals
ChampionsSlovenia Sixt Primorska (1st title)
  Runners-upNorth Macedonia MZT
SemifinalistsSerbia Borac
Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars
Finals MVPSerbia Marko Jagodić-Kuridža
Statistical leaders
Points Montenegro Pavlićević 20.0
Rebounds Serbia Jagodić-Kuridža 8.9
Assists Slovenia Šiško 7.5
Index Rating Serbia Jagodić-Kuridža 22.5
Records
Biggest home winPrimorska 102–58 Zrinjski
(January 30, 2019)
Biggest away winHelios 64–109 Primorska
(January 17, 2019)
Highest scoringVršac 102–107 Rogaška
(January 9, 2019)
Winning streakSixt Primorska
11 games
Losing streakVršac
19 games
All statistics correct as of March 8, 2019.

The 2018–19 ABA League Second Division was the 2nd season of the ABA Second Division with 12 teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia participating in it.

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). According to that, the promotion to the First Division is possible only from the Second Division. The last placed of the 2017–18 First Division season lose the right to participate in the 2018–19 season and its place is given to the 2017–18 Champion of the Second Division. 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 the Qualifiers 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.[1]

The maximum number of clubs from one country in the First Division is five, while in the Second Division each country will have two participants. 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.[1]

Instead of the Final Four tournament, as of the 2018–19 season, the Second Division champion will be given after the Playoffs, where four best teams of the regular season will compete. The last placed club in the 2017–18 season loses the right to participate in the 2018–19 season, regardless of its result in the national championship.[1]

Teams

Team allocation

Macedonian League champions Rabotnički withdrew their place in 2018–19 season, as well as the semifinalists Kumanovo and Blokotehna. Their place was taken by Serbian team Vršac.[2]

The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round:

  • 1st, 2nd, etc.: National League position after Playoffs
  • ABA1: Relegated from the First Division
  • WC: Wild card
Regular season[3]
Serbia Borac (4th) Slovenia Sixt Primorska (3rd) Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski (1st) Montenegro Sutjeska (3rd)
Serbia Dynamic VIP PAY (6th) Slovenia Rogaška (4th) Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars (4th) Montenegro Lovćen 1947 (4th)
Serbia Vršac (7th)WC Slovenia Helios Suns (5th)WC Croatia Split (4th) North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom (ABA1)

Venues and locations

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in the 2018–19 ABA League Second Division
Team Home city Arena Capacity
Borac Čačak Borac Hall 4,000
Dynamic VIP PAY Belgrade Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall 5,000
Helios Suns Domžale Komunalni center Hall 2,500
Lovćen 1947 Cetinje Lovćen SC 1,500
MZT Skopje Aerodrom Skopje Jane Sandanski 7,500
Rogaška Rogaška Slatina Rogaška Slatina SH 1,100
Sixt Primorska Koper Arena Bonifika 3,000
Spars Sarajevo Grbavica SH 1,500
Split Split Arena Gripe 3,500
Sutjeska Nikšić Nikšić SC 3,000
Vršac Vršac Millennium Hall 4,400
Zrinjski Mostar Bijeli Brijeg Hall 1,000

Personnel and sponsorship

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Borac Serbia Jovica Arsić Serbia Marko Marinović — P.S. Fashion
Dynamic VIP PAY Serbia Vladimir Đokić Serbia Vuk Vulikić NAAI VIP PAY
Helios Suns Slovenia Dejan Jakara Slovenia Aljaž Bratec Spalding Helios, Triglav
Lovćen 1947 Montenegro Miodrag Kadija Montenegro Nikola Borilović NetS VOLI
MZT Skopje Aerodrom North Macedonia Gjorgji Kočov North Macedonia Damjan Stojanovski Adidas Cevahir Holding, UNIBanka
Rogaška Slovenia Damjan Novaković Slovenia Miha Fon Nike —
Sixt Primorska Slovenia Jurica Golemac Slovenia Alen Hodžić Nike Vehicle Rent
Spars Bosnia and Herzegovina Marko Trbić Bosnia and Herzegovina Adin Vrabac Adidas —
Split Croatia Ante Grgurević Croatia Mateo Kedžo Macron Bobis
Sutjeska Montenegro Zoran Glomazić First Ever EP CG
Vršac Greece Darko Kostić Montenegro Miloš Savović Spirit Villager
Zrinjski Croatia Hrvoje Vlašić Croatia Ljubo Šamadan No1 Mostarsko pivo

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Position in table Replaced with Date of appointment Ref.
MZT Skopje Aerodrom Serbia Željko Lukajić 3 April 2018 Off-season North Macedonia Gjorgji Kočov 3 April 2018
Vršac Serbia Goran Topić April 2018 Serbia Mihajlo Mitić April 2018
Borac Serbia Raško Bojić 9 April 2018 Serbia Jovica Arsić 9 April 2018
Split Croatia Ivica Skelin 29 May 2018 Croatia Vladimir Anzulović 29 May 2018
Dynamic VIP PAY Serbia Miroslav Nikolić 4 July 2018 Serbia Vladimir Đokić 4 July 2018
Lovćen 1947 Montenegro Petar Jovanović 23 August 2018 Montenegro Miodrag Kadija 23 August 2018
Vršac Serbia Mihajlo Mitić 24 August 2018 Serbia Branko Maksimović 24 August 2018
Helios Suns Serbia Jovan Beader 12 November 2018 10th (2–5) Slovenia Dejan Jakara 12 November 2018
Vršac Serbia Branko Maksimović 4 January 2019 12th (1–13) Greece Darko Kostić 4 January 2019
Split Croatia Vladimir Anzulović 5 March 2019 7th (8–12) Croatia Ante Grgurević 5 March 2019

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Slovenia Sixt Primorska 22 20 2 1867 1521 +346 42 Advance to the Playoffs
2 Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars 22 16 6 1641 1578 +63 38
3 North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 22 15 7 1899 1758 +141 37
4 Serbia Borac Čačak 22 13 9 1757 1690 +67 35
5 Serbia Dynamic VIP PAY 22 12 10 1776 1727 +49 34
6 Montenegro Sutjeska 22 12 10 1769 1803 −34 34
7 Montenegro Lovćen 1947 22 11 11 1715 1688 +27 33
8 Croatia Split 22 10 12 1711 1712 −1 32
9 Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski 22 8 14 1713 1815 −102 30
10 Slovenia Rogaška 22 7 15 1726 1785 −59 29
11 Slovenia Helios Suns 22 7 15 1642 1772 −130 29
12 Serbia Vršac 22 1 21 1728 2095 −367 23 Relegation
Source: ABA League Second Division

Positions by round

Source: ABA2

Results

Home \ Away BOR DYN HEL LOV MZT ROG PRI SPA SPL SUT VRS ZRI
Borac Čačak — 102–72 81–63 77–76 79–74 89–84 65–73 80–84 79–73 92–68 89–71 82–76
Dynamic VIP PAY 89–98 — 79–71 87–88 98–75 91–74 68–58 79–74 72–78 76–51 95–83 88–81
Helios Suns 76–82 75–77 — 77–74 73–92 66–58 64–109 76–69 78–82 84–76 95–78 82–80
Lovćen 1947 75–70 89–82 79–58 — 67–85 72–71 66–80 68–74 63–65 81–87 81–66 83–73
MZT Skopje Aerodrom 82–57 84–74 92–79 100–90 — 84–70 77–78 93–77 104–87 94–73 78–69 97–75
Rogaška 81–88 75–80 68–63 85–95 102–90 — 74–75 70–81 74–69 95–81 92–80 66–62
Sixt Primorska 97–71 82–67 87–58 77–74 91–84 85–80 — 102–61 78–69 93–66 103–77 102–58
Spars 66–63 88–84 79–66 73–64 71–75 63–59 54–69 — 96–58 76–74 67–54 75–73
Split 81–68 72–78 82–76 71–78 76–78 81–69 75–77 60–63 — 109–87 87–69 78–82
Sutjeska 71–64 80–74 78–70 81–71 91–79 94–79 85–82 67–74 83–90 — 109–91 85–73
Vršac 74–100 99–93 74–106 78–103 88–95 102–107 65–103 76–93 80–96 78–100 — 85–91
Zrinjski 84–81 50–73 96–86 71–78 93–87 94–93 63–66 68–83 80–72 78–82 112–91 —
Updated to match(es) played on March 17, 2019. Source: ABA Second Division
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Playoffs

Bracket

 
SemifinalsFinals
 
      
 
March 20–24
 
 
Slovenia Sixt Primorska2
 
April 1–8
 
Serbia Borac Čačak0
 
Slovenia Sixt Primorska3
 
March 20–24
 
North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom0
 
Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars0
 
 
North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 2
 

Semifinals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Sixt Primorska Slovenia 2–0 Serbia Borac Čačak 78–59 73–69 —
Spars Bosnia and Herzegovina 0–2 North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 70–71 70–84 —

Finals

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
Sixt Primorska Slovenia 3–0 North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 93–71 95–72 66–61 — —

Promotion 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. 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.

Teams

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.[13] Zadar won the series 2−1 and kept its First League status.[14]

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

MVP of the Round

Round Player Team PIR
1 United States James Woodard North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 25
2 Serbia Marko Jagodić-Kuridža Slovenia Sixt Primorska 39
3 Serbia Nemanja Protić Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars 35
4 Bosnia and Herzegovina Ibrahim Durmo Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars 28
5 Croatia Marko Ramljak Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski 41
6 Serbia Radovan Đoković Serbia Borac 32
7 Montenegro Miloš Popović Montenegro Lovćen 1947 34
8 Croatia Ive Ivanov North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 27
9 Croatia Sven Smajlagić Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski 37
10 Montenegro Milutin Đukanović Montenegro Lovćen 1947 35
11 Bosnia and Herzegovina Aleksandar Todorović Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski 36
12 Serbia Andrija Bojić North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 35
13 Serbia Miloš Glišić Serbia Dynamic VIP PAY 37
14 Serbia Radovan Đoković (2) Serbia Borac 35
15 Croatia Pavle Marčinković Croatia Split 36
16 Montenegro Nikola Pavličević Montenegro Sutjeska 35
17 Serbia Marko Jagodić-Kuridža (2) Slovenia Sixt Primorska 27
18 Montenegro Radosav Spasojević Montenegro Sutjeska 29
19 Bosnia and Herzegovina Draško Albijanić Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars 37
20 Serbia Ilija Đoković Serbia Borac 30
21 Montenegro Aleksa Popović Montenegro Lovćen 1947 33
22 North Macedonia Predrag Samardžiski North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 39
SF1 Slovenia Žan Mark Šiško Slovenia Sixt Primorska 28
SF2 Croatia Ive Ivanov (2) North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 31
F1 United States Lance Harris Slovenia Sixt Primorska 26
F2 Croatia Marjan Čakarun Slovenia Sixt Primorska 27
F3 Serbia Marko Jagodić-Kuridža (3) Slovenia Sixt Primorska 28

Source: ABA League Second Division

Attendances

Attendances do not include playoff games yet:

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Serbia Borac Čačak 14,750 2,200 700 1,341 −22.4%†
2 North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom 12,958 1,500 650 1,178 −40.3%1
3 Montenegro Lovćen 1947 10,650 1,150 800 968 +11.5%†
4 Serbia Vršac 9,940 1,150 800 904 −35.4%†
5 Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars 9,430 1,200 750 857 n/a†
6 Croatia Split 8,940 900 690 813 +5.9%†
7 Slovenia Sixt Primorska 8,770 2,000 400 797 −4.9%†
8 Montenegro Sutjeska 8,190 1,200 300 745 n/a†
9 Slovenia Rogaška 7,930 950 400 721 −3.2%†
10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski 7,683 900 200 698 −30.2%†
11 Slovenia Helios Suns 6,040 850 200 549 n/a†
12 Serbia Dynamic VIP PAY 5,910 950 100 537 −14.4%†
League total 111,191 2,200 100 842 −7.6%†

Updated to games played on March 14, 2019
Source: ABA 2 League
Notes:
1: 2017–18 season average applied to ABA League games

See also

2018–19 domestic competitions

References

  1. ^ a b c "Important decisions confirmed at the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly Session". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  2. ^ "SJAJNE VESTI ZA VRŠAC Odustajanjem makedonskih ekipa, Srbija dobija i treći tim u Drugoj ABA ligi". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. ^ "The list of participants for the new season confirmed". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  4. ^ "RASKINUO UGOVOR Željko Lukajić napustio MZT". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Bojić resigned from Borac head coach position". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  6. ^ "POSLE DEVET GODINA SA BOJIĆEM NA KORMILU Košarkaši Borca imaju novog trenera". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Anzulović potpisao na tri godine sa Splitom". vecernji.hr. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  8. ^ "BLICSPORT SAZNAJE Muta Nikolić sportski menadžer Dinamika, Đokić novi trener Dorćolaca". sport.blic.rs. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Miodrag Kadija returns to Lovćen". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Branko Maksimović is the new head coach of Vršac". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  11. ^ Jovana Beaderja bo na mestu glavnega trenerja zamenjal Dejan Jakara
  12. ^ "Darko Kostić is the new head coach of Vršac". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  13. ^ "ABA League Qualifiers to begin on 17 April". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Zadar clinch the ticket for the 2019/20 ABA League season". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.

External links

  • Official website (Second Division)
  • Official website (First Division)
  • ABA League at Eurobasket.com
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