By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The summer of 2016 was troubled almost for all major European leagues with Spain ending up having a 17-team league, VTB losing three clubs and presenting a 14-team format, the ABA league also making changes and Gaziantep in Turkey surviving in the last moment the withdrawal of its main sponsor.
Greece is also facing its own woes with Kifisia – which at one point was even a candidate to play in the FIBA Champions League – being unable to compete in the top league due to the financial situation of the club.
A special committee is created which will award a wildcard for the spot left open and five teams have applied for it. Those are Panionios, Iraklis, Heraklion, Arkadikos and Doxa Leykadas. Only one team which fits the criteria for the wildcard, Kavala, has not yet applied. That means that the 14 teams format of the league will not change, but on the other hand the club which finished on the 6th spot last season couldn’t get the proper revenues in order to stay on the top level.