ABA League Second Division

ABA League Second Division
ABA2 League Vertical logo
FoundedJuly 2017; 7 years ago (2017-07)
First season2017–18
Country
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid2nd
Promotion toABA League First Division
SupercupABA Supercup
International cup(s)Champions League
Current championsSerbia Spartak Office Shoes (1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsSlovenia Krka (2 titles)
TV partnersArena Sport
Websitedruga.aba-liga.com
2024–25 season

The ABA League Second Division, also ABA League 2, is the 2nd-tier men's basketball division of the ABA League system. It is run by the ABA League JTD. It is a regional competition between men's professional clubs from six countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

History

[edit]

The ABA League Assembly, held on 24 July 2017, in Belgrade, Serbia, decided to organize the ABA League Second Division with 12 participants. Based on the results in the national championships and by taking into account which clubs have sent applications for participation in the ABA League Second Division, these teams will play in the inaugural season of the ABA League Second Division.[1]

Teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia previously played similar second-tier competition called First B Federal League when they were part of SFR Yugoslavia. The First B Federal League was played for 11 seasons from 1980 to 1991.

On 12 March 2020, the ABA League Assembly temporarily suspended the 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On 27 May 2020, the ABA League Assembly canceled definitely the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] On 29 June 2020, the Assembly decided to extend the number of clubs from 12 to 14 until the 2024–25 season.[4] Further on 15 July 2024 Assembly changed competition format to number 16 teams divided into 4 groups of 4 teams each. [5]

Seasons

[edit]
Season Champion Runner-up Top seed Champion's Coach Finals MVP
Slovenia Krka Slovenia Sixt Primorska Serbia Borac Čačak Slovenia Simon Petrov Bosnia and Herzegovina Marko Jošilo
Slovenia Sixt Primorska North Macedonia MZT Skopje Slovenia Sixt Primorska Slovenia Goran Jagodnik Serbia Marko Jagodić-Kuridža
Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Serbia Borac Čačak None Not awarded
Montenegro Studentski centar Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars Montenegro Studentski centar Serbia Nenad Trajković Serbia Marko Tejić
Serbia Zlatibor North Macedonia MZT Skopje North Macedonia MZT Skopje Serbia Strajin Nedović Serbia Dušan Kutlešić
Slovenia Krka Slovenia Helios Suns Slovenia Helios Suns Slovenia Jure Balažič Slovenia Mate Vucić
Serbia Spartak Office Shoes Serbia Vojvodina MTS Serbia Spartak Office Shoes Serbia Vlada Jovanović Serbia Filip Barna

First Division promotion and relegation

[edit]

The champions of the Second Division are promoted to a following Adriatic League First Division season, while the last-placed team in the First Division are relegated to a following season of the Second Division.[1] Also, as of the 2018–19 season, the 11th placed team of the ABA League First Division and the 2nd placed team of the Second Division, will play in the Qualifiers for a spot in the First Division for the following season.[6]

Season Promotion to First Division Relegation from First Division
2016–17 None Slovenia Krka (14)
2017–18 Slovenia Krka (1) North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom (12)
2018–19 Slovenia Primorska (1) Slovenia Petrol Olimpija[Note 1] (12)
2019–20 Serbia Borac Čačak; Croatia Split[Note 2] None
2020–21 Montenegro Studentski centar (1) Slovenia Koper Primorska[Note 3]
2021–22 North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom (Finalist) Slovenia Krka (14)
2022–23 Slovenia Krka (Champion) North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom (14)
2023–24 Serbia Spartak Office Shoes (Champion) None

Current clubs

[edit]
Team Home city Arena Capacity
Bosnia and Herzegovina Borac Banja Luka Borik Sports Hall 3,060
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosna Sarajevo Mirza Delibašić Hall 6,500
Croatia Cedevita Junior Zagreb Dom Sportova 3,100
Slovenia Helios Suns Domžale Komunalni center Hall 2,500
Slovenia Ilirija Ljubljana Tivoli Hall 4,500
North Macedonia MZT Skopje Aerodrom Skopje Jane Sandanski 7,500
North Macedonia Pelister Bitola Sports Hall Boro Čurlevski 5,000
Montenegro Podgorica Podgorica Bemax Arena 2,000
North Macedonia Rabotnički Šenčur Gradski Park 1,400
Croatia Šibenka Šibenik Baldekin Sports Hall 900
Bosnia and Herzegovina Široki Široki Brijeg Pecara Sports Hall 4,500
Montenegro Sutjeska Nikšić Nikšić Sports Center 3,000
Montenegro Teodo Tivat Dvorana Župa Tivat 1,500
Serbia Vojvodina Novi Sad SPC Vojvodina 7,022
Serbia Joker Sombor Mostonga Hall 1,000
Serbia Zlatibor Čajetina Čajetina Sports Hall 500

All-time participants

[edit]

The following is a list of clubs that have played in the Second Division, at any time, since its formation in 2017, to the current season.

Key

[edit]
1D Played in the First Division
Cn. Canceled season
LR Lose right to compete in the next season
Defunct Defunct teams
1st Champions
2nd Runners-up
SF Semni-finalists
Bold Teams playing in the 2024–25 season
R Regular season winners

List of participants

[edit]

Note: Statistics are correct through the start of the 2024–25 season.

The 2019–20 season was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

Team 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 24 Total
seasons
Highest
finish
Bosnia and Herzegovina Borac Banja Luka QF SF QF 9th TBD 5 Semi-finals
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosna 11th TBD 2 11th
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sloboda Tuzla Cn. 1
Bosnia and Herzegovina Spars SF Cn. 2nd QF 12th 5 Runners-up
Bosnia and Herzegovina Široki Cn. 9th SF SF QF TBD 6 Semi-finals
Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski 7th 9th 2 7th
Croatia Cedevita Junior 12th TBD 2 12th
Croatia Gorica 10th 13th 2 10th
Croatia Šibenka 13th TBD 2 13th
Croatia Split 8th 8th Cn. 1D 3 8th
Croatia Vrijednosnice Osijek 14th 14th 2 14th
Montenegro Lovćen 1947 6th 7th Cn. 12th 13th 5 6th
Montenegro Podgorica SF 10th SF SF TBD 5 Semi-finals
Montenegro Studentski centar 1stR 1D 1 Champions
Montenegro Sutjeska 6th Cn. 13th QF QF QF TBD 7 6th
Montenegro Teodo 9th TBD 2 9th
North Macedonia AV Ohrid 12th LR Defunct 1 12th
North Macedonia MZT Skopje 1D 2nd Cn. QF 2ndR 1D SF TBD 6 Runners-up
North Macedonia Pelister 11th QF 10th TBD 4 Quarter-finals
North Macedonia Rabotnički 11th TBD 2 11th
North Macedonia TFT Skopje 11th 14th 2 11th
Serbia Borac Čačak SFR SF Cn. 1D 3 Semi-finals
Serbia Dynamic 10th 5th Cn. 3 5th
Serbia Joker TBD 1 TBD
Serbia Mladost Zemun SF QF 2 Semi-finals
Serbia Novi Pazar Cn. 1
Serbia Sloboda Užice QF 1 Quarter-finals
Serbia Sloga Kraljevo 9th 1 9th
Serbia Spartak Subotica 1st R 1D 1 Champions
Serbia Vojvodina 9th 2nd TBD 3 Runners-up
Serbia Vršac SF 12th LR 2 Semi-finals
Serbia Zlatibor QF 1st QF QF TBD 5 Champions
Slovenia Helios Suns 11th Cn. 14th QF 2ndR QF TBD 7 Runners-up
Slovenia Ilirija TBD 1 TBD
Slovenia Krka 1st 1D 1st 1D 2 Champions
Slovenia Primorska 2nd 1stR 1D Defunct 2 Champions
Slovenia Rogaška 5th 10th Cn. 12th 4 5th
Slovenia Šenčur 10th 11th 2 10th

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^
    Olimpija Ljubljana and Cedevita Zagreb made a merger and established a new club based in Ljubljana in July 2019 under the name Cedevita Olimpija.[7]
  2. ^
    Borac Čačak and Split were awarded with wild cards to participate in the 2020–21 ABA League First Division.[3]
  3. ^
    Koper Primorska was disqualified from the ABA League in December 2020 after failing to play two consecutive games due to financial problems.[8] Later that month, the club also withdrew from the Slovenian League and was disbanded.[9][10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "The ABA League Second Division will start from the 2017/18 season". aba-liga.com. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  2. ^ "ABA competitions suspended". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Conclusions of the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  4. ^ "29 June 2020 - Conclusions of the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. ^ "First Phase Groups have been drawn". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Important decisions confirmed at the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly Session". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Rimac trener Cedevite Olimpije, prva okrepitev Edo Murić". rtvslo.si. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  8. ^ Maver, Rok (17 December 2020). "Koper Primorska izključena iz lige Aba". Primorske novice (in Slovenian). Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  9. ^ S. J. (23 December 2020). "Koper izstopil tudi iz domačih tekmovanj" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  10. ^ Jamnik, Tilen (25 December 2020). "Žakelj ob koncu Primorske: Na tak način ni moglo več iti" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
[edit]