By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a conclusion has been made that ABA League j.t.d. underwent a very successful season, the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly has made a series of decisions with a goal of further strengthening and development of the competition in the session, held on 14 July 2016 in Maestral hotel in Pržno-Budva.
ABA League j.t.d. has strengthened its position as a powerful brand and a driving force of development of basketball in the region, is the conclusion of the unanimously confirmed report for the 2015/16 season, presented by Director Krešimir Novosel and Sports Director Žarko Čabarkapa. The average attendance growth in the arenas, as well as growth of the number of visits on the league’s official website and growth of the league’s social media.
During the analysis of the current situation in Europe and region the ABA League j.t.d. Asssembly has once more confirmed explicitly strong interest, desire and choice of the clubs to participate in the regional competition and it will not abandon this course, regardless of all the possible obstacles that might arise. In accordance with this, the Assembly of the ABA League j.t.d. has concluded that the league will use all available means in order to protect the freedom of clubs to participate in the competitions which they consider to guarantee the best environment for their further development and rise of quality.
Having confirmed the extremely strong interest of clubs and having in mind the further strengthening of the competition the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly has decided that 14 clubs will participate in the 2016/17 season. Based on the placements in the domestic championships the clubs that have secured themselves a spot in the ABA League j.t.d. are: Helios Suns, Krka, Cedevita, Cibona, Zadar, Igokea, Crvena zvezda MTS, Partizan NIS, Mega Leks, Budućnost VOLI and MZT Skopje Aerodrom. Based on the coefficient of the national standings in 2015/16 season the teams that took the 12th and 13th spot in the league are Mornar and FMP. Union Olimpija received a wild card, which is to be paid. In case Union Olimpija does not fulfil its financial obligation in due time, the 14th spot will be filled based on national standings in 2015/16 ABA League j.t.d. season, but without financial obligation for a club in the following order of countries: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM, Slovenia.
In order to protect the quality level of the competition the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly has decided that the club that will finish the 2016/17 season in the last place will lose the right to participate in the 2017/18 season.
In accordance with the founding act, the changes in the ABA League j.t.d. Presidency were made at the assembly session. Cedevita President Mladen Veber becme the new president, while besides Crvena zvezda MTS and its president Nebojša Čović, Igokea General Manager Igor Dodik got the position of the second vice president.
ABA League j.t.d. Assembly confirmed the competition schedule for the 2016/17 season and the draw numbers have been determined afterwards.
The 2016/17 season will begin on 1 October 2016. The regular part of the competition will end on 11 March 2017. The Playoffs will begin on 18 March, while its end is scheduled for 15 April 2017.
In the end the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly accepted a series of initiatives with a goal of popularization of basketball and growth of all basketball subjects. One of them is organization of youth categories tournament.