ABA League

The Adriatic Basketball Association is a national league, playing in the clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Montenegro to the basketball championship. Since the 2012/13 season, the Hungarian champion takes part in the championship.

History

After the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, each country of the decomposed state founded his own league. Advantage in the rivalry were in the individual countries at the clubs with each other, and low Fanausschreitungen. However, it soon became clear that disappeared by the disintegration of the country, the interest, there were only two to three well-known clubs in each country, which accounted for the champion among themselves. Falling attendances, players who prefer to try their luck abroad and deteriorating quality in the domestic leagues forced the leaders to do something. The idea of ​​a national league came on, but was not yet the time is ripe enough. Were too painful nor the wounds and the memories of the war. In addition, more was added the problem of affordability. Even so, had to be approved by a competition of FIBA ​​. The competition should be of interest to the individual clubs, financially as well as sporty. So we asked the FIBA to allow the winner of the competition directly into a European competition to play the following year. Meanwhile, this was also approved. A major sponsor was also found and approved the competition. In the year 2001/2002 launched the first season of Goodyear League.

In the second season, in the year 2002/2003, a team left the league, it was replaced by Maccabi Tel Aviv ( Israel). Maccabi left the league also a year later, but it was 2003/2004 increased to 14 teams in 2004/2005 to 16 teams. In the season 2005/2006 it was reduced again to 14 teams. Now, after 5 years of the contract had expired with the main sponsor. Goodyear was only minor sponsor and also lost the naming rights to the league. From the season 2006/ 07, the Nova Ljubljanska banka (NLB ) is the new main sponsor, hence the league now calls NLB League.

Sponsored by

The league changing its name to each of the new main sponsor. The first main sponsor was Goodyear, hence called Goodyear league. Current sponsor is the largest bank in Slovenia Nova Ljubljanska Banka ( NLB).

Nova Ljubljanska Banka season 2006/07-

Competition mode

They will play round-trip round. The mode of further rounds has been changed several times:

In the first three seasons, the top four teams qualified directly for the discharged as a Final Four final round. In the seasons 2004/2005 and 2005/ 06 has now found a place instead of the Final Eight Final Four, but this was still (without round-trip games) played in only one city and in the simple knock-out system. 2006/ 07, the final round was again reduced to four teams, but this time in the play-off mode best of three competed against each other. Since the season 2007/ 08, the final round is again discharged as a Final Four.

Depending on the performance of each country is determined after each season, the new number of participants in the respective country. In the new season, then move the top finishers of the domestic leagues to the launch sites.

The individual seasons from 2001

Season 2001/2002

The first season was held in the year 2001/2002 with 12 teams of eh Yugoslavia. Excluded were the teams of Serbia, as it was feared Fanausschreitungen after the long civil war. Groups of 4 teams from Croatia and Slovenia, as well as three teams from Bosnia and Montenegro played a team from the first season.

First winner of the Goodyear League was KK Union Olimpia Ljubljana, Slovenia.

2002/2003 season

Already in the second year, the 2002/2003 season, the clubs from Serbia and Montenegro have been approved. Despite some criticisms and reservations however, one had to admit that the level has risen significantly since the year. Also, an Israeli club, Maccabi Tel Aviv played a guest season, what the appeal of the League for the foreign only reaffirmed. In the second season took part 4 teams from Croatia, and 3 teams from Slovenia and Bosnia, to each got a team of Serbia and Israel.

Winner of the second season was KK Zadar Zadar, Croatia.

2003/2004 season

The league was expanded to 14 teams in the third season by increasing interest. But not more Maccabi Tel Aviv launched this competition, so teams were now only represented by Balkan. It started 4 respective teams from Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia & Montenegro, as well as two teams from Bosnia.

Winner of the third season was KK Reflex from Belgrade, Serbia.

2004/2005 season

The league was expanded to 16 teams in the 4th season by again increasing interest. Also this season are represented only teams from the Balkans. Also new is the Final Eight is which comes into force in place of the Final Four. It started 5 teams from Croatia and Serbia & Montenegro, 4 teams from Slovenia, as well as two teams from Bosnia.

Winner of the fourth season was KK Hemofarm Vrsac from Serbia.

2005/2006 season

Because of heavily loaded schedule in the Goodyear League, the domestic leagues and European competitions the league was cut back to 14 teams. It start 5 teams from Serbia & Montenegro, 4 teams from Slovenia, 3 teams from Croatia, as well as two teams from Bosnia.

Winner of the fifth season was KK FMP Železnik from Belgrade.

2006/2007 season

It remains at the reduced league of 14 teams: It start 4 teams from Serbia, 4 teams from Croatia, 3 teams of Slovenia, two teams from Bosnia and one team from Montenegro.

Winner of the sixth season was KK Partizan from Belgrade.

Season 2007/2008

This season is one of the league 14 teams: It start 5 teams from Serbia, 4 teams from Croatia, 3 teams of Slovenia, 1 team from Bosnia and one team from Montenegro.

Winner of the seventh season was KK Partizan from Belgrade.

Season 2008/2009

Just like last season, the league is again made ​​up of 14 teams: Re- start 5 teams from Serbia, 4 teams from Croatia, 3 teams from Slovenia, 1 team from Bosnia and Herzegovina and one wild-card was for the Montenegrin champions awarded.

Winner of the 8th season was KK Partizan from Belgrade.

2009/2010 season

Just like last season, the league is again made ​​up of 14 teams: This time, start 5 teams from Serbia, 4 teams from Croatia, 2 teams from Slovenia, 2 team of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one wild-card was for the Montenegrin champions awarded.

Winner of the 9th season was KK Partizan from Belgrade.

Season 2010/2011

Just like last season, the league is again made ​​up of 14 teams: This time start 4 teams from Serbia, 4 teams from Croatia, 2 teams from Slovenia, 2 teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina and one wild-card was for the Montenegrin champions awarded as well as a guest invitation to the Czech champions.

Winner of the 10th season was KK Partizan from Belgrade.

Season 2011/2012

Just like last season, the league is again made ​​up of 14 teams: This time start 4 teams from Serbia, 4 teams from Slovenia, 3 teams from Croatia, one team of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one wild-card was for the Montenegrin champions awarded as well as a guest invitation to the Israeli masters.

Winner of the 11th season was Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Season 2012/2013

The 14 participants are teams from 7 countries: time to start 4 teams from Croatia, 3 teams from Serbia, the two teams from Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and one team from Montenegro and Macedonia. In addition, there was a guest invitation to the Hungarian master.

2013/2014 season

The 14 participants are teams from 7 countries: time to start 4 teams from Serbia, 3 teams from Croatia, the two teams from Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and one team from Montenegro, Macedonia and Hungary.

Finals

Participant

* 2011 there was a merger of the two teams.

Pictures of ABA League

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