2017–18 ABA League First Division

The 2017–18 ABA League First Division was the 17th season of the ABA League with 12 teams from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia participating in it. It was the inaugural season as the first tier as a part of two level competition.

ABA League First Division
Competition details
Season 2017–18
Teams 12
Games played 142
Dates September 29, 2017–March 12, 2018
(Regular season)
March 18, 2018–April 14, 2018
(Playoffs)
TV Arena Sport
Final positions
Champions Budućnost VOLI (1st title)
Runners-up Crvena zvezda mts
Semifinalists Cedevita
Mornar
Promoted Krka
Relegated MZT Skopje Aerodrom
Awards
MVP Luka Žorić [1]
Finals MVP Nemanja Gordić [2]
Top Prospect Džanan Musa [3]
Statistical leaders
Index Rating Luka Žorić
23.24
Points Luka Žorić
19.71
Rebounds Luka Božić
7.77
Assists Filip Čović
7.43
Records
Biggest home win Budućnost 104–62 MZT
(11 February 2018)
Biggest away win MZT 55–96 Olimpija
(3 February 2018)
Highest scoring Partizan 117–104 Igokea
(21 October 2017)
Highest attendance 7,237
Crvena zvezda 91–63 Mornar
(18 March 2018)
Lowest attendance 250
Cibona 79–82 Mornar
(4 March 2018)
Attendance 360,226 (2,537 per match)
All statistics correct as of April 14, 2018.

Format changes

On May 23, 2017, ABA League Assembly has decided that there will be 12 clubs competing in the league in the 2017–18 season.[1] Having analysed the current situation in European and the regional basketball, as well as the fact that the ABA League is still not officially recognized by the national basketball federations, and with a goal to protect the interests of the ABA League founding clubs, the clubs that have competed in the 2016–17 season will have a right to participate in the forthcoming season as well and the priority of participation will be given to the founders of the ABA League (from the 2015–16 season). The formula to determine the participants which will be respected is the following:[1]

Two additional spots will be allocated to the clubs from countries, whose clubs have achieved the best coefficients in the country rankings during the 2016–17 season. Those two countries are Serbia and Montenegro. The places from Serbia will be filled in accordance with the final standings of the Basketball League of Serbia, in accordance with the recognition and cooperation with the ABA League.[1]

In accordance with the previously mentioned decisions, the participating clubs of the ABA League for the 2017–18 season are: Cedevita, Zadar, Cibona, Union Olimpija, Igokea, Budućnost VOLI, MZT Skopje Aerodrom and Mornar, while the remaining four places (from Serbia), were determined in accordance with the standings in the Basketball League of Serbia.[1]

Teams

National standings

The numbers of teams by country is determined by a coefficient that is the sum of all victories clubs from a certain country achieve in a regular season divided by the number of clubs from that country. By using this coefficient majority of places for current season are allocated, while the remaining places are given via wild cards from league board.[2]

CountryNo.2016–17 coeff.2017–18 no. of clubs
 Serbia316.254
 Montenegro114.002
 Croatia313.333
 Bosnia and Herzegovina113.001
 Slovenia19.001
 Macedonia19.001
Total10best coeff. (+2)12

Team allocation

League positions of the previous domestic league season after playoffs shown in parentheses.

Regular season
Crvena zvezda mts (1st) Mega Bemax (4th) Cedevita (1st) Igokea (1st)
FMP (2nd) Budućnost VOLI (1st) Cibona (2nd) Petrol Olimpija (1st)
Partizan NIS (3rd) Mornar (2nd) Zadar (6th) MZT Skopje Aerodrom (1st)

Venues and locations
Location of teams in the 2017–18 ABA League First Division
Team Home city Arena Capacity
Budućnost VOLI Podgorica Morača Sports Center 4,000
Cedevita Zagreb Dražen Petrović 5,400
Cibona Zagreb Dražen Petrović 5,400
Crvena zvezda mts Belgrade Aleksandar Nikolić 5,878 [3]
FMP Belgrade Železnik Hall 3,000
Igokea Aleksandrovac Laktaši Sports Hall 3,050
Mega Bemax Sremska Mitrovica Sports Hall Pinki 2,500
Mornar Bar Topolica Sport Hall 2,625
MZT Skopje Aerodrom Skopje Jane Sandanski 7,500
Partizan NIS Belgrade Aleksandar Nikolić 5,878
Petrol Olimpija Ljubljana Arena Stožice 12,480
Zadar Zadar Krešimir Ćosić 7,847

Personnel and sponsorship
Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Budućnost VOLI Aleksandar Džikić Suad Šehović Spalding VOLI
Cedevita Jure Zdovc Roko Ukić Nike Cedevita
Cibona Ante Nazor Marin Rozić Adidas —
Crvena zvezda mts Dušan Alimpijević Branko Lazić Nike mts
FMP Vladimir Jovanović Filip Čović Champion FMP
Igokea Dragan Bajić Vuk Radivojević GBT m:tel
Mega Bemax Dejan Milojević Nikola Rebić Adidas Bemax
Mornar Mihailo Pavićević Marko Mijović Adidas Bar Municipality
MZT Skopje Aerodrom Željko Lukajić Damjan Stojanovski Adidas UNIBanka, triglav
Partizan NIS Nenad Čanak Novica Veličković Under Armour NIS
Petrol Olimpija Zoran Martič Gregor Hrovat Macron Petrol
Zadar Aramis Naglić Šime Špralja Champion OTP Bank

Coaching changes
TeamOutgoing managerDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced withDate of appointment
Budućnost VOLI Ilias Zouros14 April 2017Off-season Aleksandar Džikić22 June 2017
Cedevita Veljko Mršić9 June 2017 Jure Zdovc14 June 2017
Cibona Damir Mulaomerović13 June 2017 Slobodan Subotić17 June 2017
Partizan NIS Aleksandar Džikić13 June 2017 Miroslav Nikolić18 July 2017
MZT Skopje Aerodrom Ante Nazor15 June 2017 Aleksandar Todorov15 June 2017
Mornar Đorđije Pavićević1 July 2017 Mihailo Pavićević1 July 2017
Crvena zvezda mts Dejan Radonjić15 July 2017 Dušan Alimpijević21 July 2017
FMP Dušan Alimpijević21 July 2017 Vladimir Jovanović27 July 2017
Cibona Slobodan Subotić11 November 2017[4]9th (3–5) Ante Nazor13 November 2017[5]
MZT Skopje Aerodrom Aleksandar Todorov7 December 2017[6]12th (2–8) Željko Lukajić8 December 2017[7]
Partizan NIS Miroslav Nikolić12 December 2017[8]5th (5–6) Nenad Čanak14 December 2017[9]
Petrol Olimpija Gašper Okorn8 January 201811th (5–10) Zoran Martič8 January 2018[10]

Regular season

League table
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Crvena zvezda mts 22 19 3 1955 1679 +276 41 Advance to the playoffs
2 Budućnost VOLI 22 17 5 1863 1661 +202 39[lower-alpha 1]
3 Cedevita 22 17 5 1798 1645 +153 39[lower-alpha 1]
4 Mornar 22 14 8 1825 1790 +35 36
5 Partizan NIS 22 11 11 1936 1893 +43 33
6 Zadar 22 10 12 1846 1885 −39 32[lower-alpha 2]
7 Petrol Olimpija 22 10 12 1738 1793 −55 32[lower-alpha 2]
8 FMP 22 9 13 1756 1763 −7 31
9 Mega Bemax 22 8 14 1849 1858 −9 30
10 Igokea 22 7 15 1782 1876 −94 29[lower-alpha 3]
11 Cibona 22 7 15 1754 1890 −136 29[lower-alpha 3]
12 MZT Skopje Aerodrom 22 3 19 1659 2028 −369 25 Relegation to Second Division
Source: ABA League
Notes:
  1. Budućnost VOLI 1–1, 1.01; Cedevita 1–1, 0.99
  2. Zadar 1–1, 1.09; Petrol Olimpija 1–1, 0.92
  3. Igokea 1–1, 1.03; Cibona 1–1, 0.97

Positions by round
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Crvena zvezda mts1211322222211132211111
Budućnost VOLI6652111111122211122222
Cedevita3134543333333323333333
Mornar1291212118968108108644444444
Partizan NIS91176435455544767565555
Zadar81291112121011119656575777766
Petrol Olimpija58109810111076791010111111118887
FMP11363254544465456656678
Mega Bemax272579679119111111101010910999
Igokea75489678671079988889101010
Cibona104876789108118789991011111111
MZT Skopje Aerodrom4101110101112121212121212121212121212121212
Source:

Results
Home \ Away BUD CED CIB CZV FMP IGO MEG MOR MZT PAR OLI ZAD
Budućnost VOLI — 66–60 71–62 92–86 87–64 81–59 84–64 79–70 104–62 86–79 88–66 87–85
Cedevita 76–71 — 91–68 79–74 74–67 79–84 75–73 99–74 77–65 85–75 84–60 102–101
Cibona 87–93 100–94 — 87–93 84–85 87–86 95–93 79–82 77–92 74–90 96–85 78–80
Crvena zvezda mts 75–79 82–66 107–69 — 84–77 85–80 90–80 88–77 112–73 86–74 80–76 97–67
FMP 76–93 71–80 99–79 77–100 — 95–73 96–88 79–84 100–72 83–71 81–86 91–76
Igokea 98–94 61–69 63–57 76–82 75–65 — 82–89 79–93 99–108 67–74 86–78 94–92
Mega Bemax 83–94 77–81 95–88 85–90 74–72 99–87 — 91–70 106–77 89–102 77–86 71–73
Mornar 87–81 89–94 78–82 74–82 73–81 87–83 87–83 — 106–75 83–81 101–81 80–70
MZT Skopje Aerodrom 71–93 64–85 76–83 58–92 67–72 68–77 76–92 69–72 — 92–89 55–96 80–85
Partizan NIS 94–83 82–92 80–69 84–100 87–84 117–104 89–73 93–98 112–94 — 77–78 95–87
Petrol Olimpija 79–88 65–64 78–80 73–82 73–64 95–93 69–76 64–67 94–85 89–87 — 90–85
Zadar 78–69 76–92 79–73 76–88 83–77 82–76 95–91 77–93 105–80 97–104 97–77 —
Source: ABA League
Colours: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with background in a lighter colour were decided after overtime.

Playoffs
Main article: 2018 ABA League Playoffs

The semi-finals was played in a best-of-three format, while the Finals were played in a best-of-five format. Playoffs started on 17 March 2018, while the Finals ended on 14 April 2018.[11]

 
SemifinalsFinal
 
      
 
18 March–2 April
 
 
 Crvena zvezda mts2
 
9–14 April
 
 Mornar1
 
 Crvena zvezda mts1
 
18 March–2 April
 
 Budućnost VOLI3
 
 Budućnost VOLI2
 
 
 Cedevita1
 


2017–18 ABA League Champions

Budućnost VOLI
1st title

Semifinals
Team 1 Series Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg
Crvena zvezda mts 2–1 Mornar 91–63 84–88 88–69
Budućnost VOLI 2–1 Cedevita 84–83 75–82 72–57

Finals
Team 1 Series Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg 3rd leg4th leg5th leg
Crvena zvezda mts 1–3 Budućnost VOLI 76–80 69–59 77–7873–770

Final standings
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Budućnost VOLI 29 22 7 2388 2178 +210 51 Qualification to EuroLeague
2 Crvena zvezda mts 29 22 7 2513 2193 +320 51 Qualification to EuroCup
3 Cedevita 25 18 7 2020 1876 +144 43
4 Mornar 25 15 10 2045 2053 −8 40
5 Partizan NIS 22 11 11 1936 1893 +43 33
6 Zadar 22 10 12 1846 1885 −39 32
7 Petrol Olimpija 22 10 12 1738 1793 −55 32
8 FMP 22 9 13 1756 1763 −7 31
9 Mega Bemax 22 8 14 1849 1858 −9 30
10 Igokea 22 7 15 1782 1876 −94 29
11 Cibona 22 7 15 1754 1890 −136 29
12 MZT Skopje Aerodrom 22 3 19 1659 2028 −369 25 Relegation to Second Division
Source: ABA League

Statistical leaders
As of 12 March 2018 , after the end of the Regular Season.

PIR

Pos Player Club PIR
1 Luka Žorić Cibona 23.24
2 Uroš Luković Mornar 20.90
3 Patrick Miller Partizan NIS 20.36
4 Nigel Williams-Goss Partizan NIS 20.30
5 Luka Božić Zadar 19.09

Points

Pos Player Club PPG
1 Luka Žorić Cibona 19.71
2 Josh Bostic Zadar 19.23
3 Nigel Williams-Goss Partizan NIS 16.85
4 Derek Needham Mornar 16.82
5 Filip Čović FMP 15.76

Rebounds

Pos Player Club RPG
1 Luka Božić Zadar 7.77
2 Uroš Luković Mornar 7.52
3 Devin Oliver Petrol Olimpija 7.27
4 Jordan Morgan Petrol Olimpija 7.18
5 Luka Žorić Cibona 6.95

Assists

Pos Player Club APG
1 Filip Čović FMP 7.43
2 Nigel Williams-Goss Partizan NIS 6.95
3 Dominik Mavra MZT Skopje Aerodrom 6.25
4 Taylor Rochestie Crvena zvezda mts 5.95
5 Patrick Miller Partizan NIS 5.43

Source: ABA League

Awards
Pos. Player Team Ref.
MVP
C Luka Žorić Cibona[12]
Finals MVP
PG Nemanja Gordić Budućnost VOLI[13]
Top Prospect
SF Džanan Musa Cedevita[14]
Ideal Starting Five
PG Taylor Rochestie Crvena zvezda mts[15]
SG Nemanja Gordić Budućnost
SF Džanan Musa Cedevita
PF Novica Veličković Partizan NIS
C Uroš Luković Mornar

MVP List

MVP of the Round
Round Player Team PIR Ref.
1 Mathias Lessort Crvena zvezda mts30[16]
2 Will Cherry Cedevita27[17]
3 Luka Božić Zadar32[18]
4 Luka Žorić Cibona41[19]
5 Patrick Miller Partizan NIS40[20]
6 Uroš Luković Mornar31[21]
7 Milko Bjelica Crvena zvezda mts35[22]
8 Derek Needham Mornar30[23]
9 Džanan Musa Cedevita46[24]
10 Josh Bostic Zadar29[25]
11 Roko Ukić Cedevita28[26]
12 Nikola Jevtović Igokea29[27]
13 Uroš Luković (2) Mornar40[28]
14 Josh Bostic (2) Zadar40[29]
15 Novica Veličković Partizan NIS31[30]
16 Dominik Mavra MZT Skopje Aerodrom34[31]
17 Novica Veličković (2) Partizan NIS36[32]
18 Vlatko Čančar Mega Bemax29[33]
19 Derek Needham (2) Mornar29[34]
20 Danilo Nikolić Budućnost VOLI33[35]
21 Novica Veličković (3) Partizan NIS36[36]
22 Jordan Morgan Petrol Olimpija32[37]
SF1 Nemanja Gordić Budućnost VOLI30[38]
SF2 Demetris Nichols Cedevita30[39]
SF3 Ognjen Dobrić Crvena zvezda mts23[40]
F1 Nikola Ivanović Budućnost VOLI23
F2 Alen Omić Crvena zvezda mts27
F3 Nemanja Gordić (2) Budućnost VOLI21
F4 Filip Barović Budućnost VOLI23

MVP of the Month
Month Player Team Ref.
2017
October Patrick Miller Partizan NIS[41]
November Milko Bjelica Crvena zvezda mts[42]
December Josh Bostic Zadar[43]
2018
January Novica Veličković Partizan NIS[44]
February Uroš Luković Mornar[45]

Attendances

Attendances include playoff games:

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Partizan NIS 50,500 6,300 2,850 4,591 −2.5%†
2 Crvena zvezda mts 66,244 7,237 1,987 4,416 +1.8%†
3 Zadar 47,750 6,500 2,050 4,341 +30.6%†
4 Budućnost VOLI 51,028 6,000 1,150 3,402 +34.6%†
5 Igokea 24,080 3,000 1,550 2,189 +31.7%†
6 Mornar 25,524 3,500 1,200 2,127 −11.7%†
7 MZT Skopje Aerodrom 21,700 4,000 900 1,973 +53.7%†
8 Mega Bemax 15,840 2,550 700 1,440 +5.5%†
9 Petrol Olimpija 15,700 3,000 750 1,427 +5.1%†
10 Cibona 15,550 3,500 250 1,414 +15.2%†
11 Cedevita 16,560 2,200 800 1,380 −5.2%†
12 FMP 10,050 1,350 750 914 +76.0%†
League total 360,576 7,237 250 2,539 +24.1%†

Updated to games played on April 14, 2018
Source: ABA League

ABA League clubs in European competitions
CompetitionTeamProgressResult
EuroLeague Crvena zvezda mtsRegular season14th (11–19)
EuroCup Budućnost VOLIQuarterfinals(2)Eliminated by Darüşşafaka, 0–2
CedevitaTop 16 Group G(1)4th (0–6)
Partizan NISRegular season Group C6th (1–9)
Champions League Petrol OlimpijaRegular season Group C7th (4–10)
MornarSecond qualifying roundEliminated by Avtodor Saratov, 132–158; transferred to FIBA Europe Cup
FIBA Europe CupQuarterfinals(3)Eliminated by Donar, 147–168

See also
2017–18 domestic competitions
Teams

References
  1. "Series of decisions made at the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly". aba-liga.com. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  2. "National standings 2016–2017". aba-liga.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  3. ALEKSANDAR NIKOLIC 6500.
  4. "Cibona and Slobodan Subotić parted ways". aba-liga.com. 11 November 2017.
  5. "Ante Nazor is the new head coach of Cibona". aba-liga.com. 13 November 2017.
  6. "Todorov is no longer MZT Skopje Aerodrom head coach". aba-liga.com. 7 December 2017.
  7. "Željko Lukajić is the new MZT Skopje Aerodrom head coach". aba-liga.com. 8 December 2017.
  8. "Miroslav Nikolić is no longer head coach of Partizan NIS". aba-liga.com. 12 December 2017.
  9. "Nenad Čanak is the new head coach of Partizan NIS". aba-liga.com. 14 December 2017.
  10. "Zoran Martić replaced Okorn at Petrol Olimpija bench". aba-liga.com. 8 January 2018.
  11. "ABA League j.t.d. Assembly session took place in Zagreb". www.aba-liga.com.
  12. "2017/18 Regular Season MVP: Luka Žorić (Cibona)". www.aba-liga.com.
  13. "Playoffs MVP: Nemanja Gordić". www.aba-liga.com.
  14. "2017/18 Top Prospect: Džanan Musa (Cedevita)". www.aba-liga.com.
  15. "Rochestie heads the Ideal Starting Five". www.aba-liga.com.
  16. "Round 1 MVP: Mathias Lessort (Crvena zvezda mts)". www.aba-liga.com.
  17. "Round 2 MVP: Will Cherry (Cedevita)". www.aba-liga.com.
  18. "Round 3 MVP: Luka Božić (Zadar)". www.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  19. "Round 4 MVP: Luka Žorić (Cibona)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  20. "Round 5 MVP: Patrick Miller (Partizan NIS)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  21. "Round 6 MVP: Uroš Luković (Mornar)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  22. "Round 7 MVP: Milko Bjelica (Crvena zvezda mts)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  23. "Round 8 MVP: Derek Needham (Mornar)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  24. "Round 9 MVP: Džanan Musa (Cedevita)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  25. "Round 10 MVP: Josh Bostic (Zadar)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  26. "Round 11 MVP: Roko-Leni Ukić (Cedevita)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  27. "Round 12 MVP: Nikola Jevtović (Igokea)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  28. "Round 13 MVP: Uroš Luković (Mornar)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  29. "Round 14 MVP: Joshua Bostic (Zadar)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  30. "Round 15 MVP: Novica Veličković (Partizan NIS)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  31. "Round 16 MVP: Dominik Mavra (MZT Skopje Aerodrom)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  32. "MVP: Novica Veličković (Partizan NIS)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  33. "Round 18 MVP: Vlatko Čančar (Mega Bemax)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  34. "Round 19 MVP: Derek Needham (Mornar)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  35. "Round 20 MVP: Danilo Nikolić (Budućnost VOLI)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  36. "Round 21 MVP: Novica Veličković (Partizan NIS)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  37. "Round 22 MVP: Jordan Morgan (Petrol Olimpija)". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  38. "Who are the top performers of Semi-finals round 1?". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  39. "Who are the top performers of Semi-finals round 2?". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  40. "Who are the top performers of Semi-finals round 3?". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  41. MVP of October: Patrick Miller (Partizan NIS)
  42. MVP of November: Milko Bjelica (Crvena zvezda mts)
  43. MVP of December: Joshua Bostic (Zadar)
  44. MVP of January: Novica Veličković (Partizan NIS)
  45. MVP of February: Uroš Luković (Mornar)
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