#ABAFutureStars: The stage is set for the new basketball stars to shine
The final tournament of the U19 ABA League Championship 2022/23 will take place this week in Laktaši, with four teams aiming to clinch the precious trophy.
U19 ABA League Championship logo
The final tournament of the U19 ABA League Championship 2022/23 will take place this week in Laktaši, with four teams aiming to clinch the precious trophy.
The semi-final games will be played on Wednesday, April 19, while the 3rd place game and the big Final is scheduled for Thursday, April 20.
Recall that the reigning champions U19 Mega MIS will face U19 Cedevita Olimpija in the first semi-final game, while after that U19 Crvena zvezda will play against tournament hosts U19 Igokea m:tel.
After everything we have seen so far in this season, it definitely looks like that we will have one of the most exciting final tournaments ever in the U19 ABA League Championship.
The 3-time U19 ABA League Championship winners and the reigning champions U19 Mega MIS have been quite impressive in the 2022/23 campaign as they finished the regular season with a perfect score and two quite convincing wins. On top of that, the Pink troops have won the EuroLeague Adidas Next Generation Qualification Tournament in Belgrade, which means that this team will participate at the EuroLeague Adidas Next Generation Final Tournament in Kaunas. Therefore, Mega’s goal ahead of this tournament is quite clear – after winning the titles in 2018, 2021 and 2022, they want to add the 4th U19 ABA League Championship trophy to their cupboard.
U19 Cedevita Olimpija have also finished the regular season undefeated, while the way they have booked their place at the final tournament was more than impressive. In one of the most thrilling games ever played in the U19 ABA League Championship, U19 Cedevita Olimpija defeated U19 Zadar as Lon Ličan hit the game-winning 2-pointer at the buzzer. The young Dragons now dream of winning their first ever U19 ABA League Championship title and the road toward the glory leads them over the reigning champions U19 Mega MIS.
U19 Crvena zvezda is the 3rd team that advanced to the final tournament with perfect score on their record. The red-and-whites have never won the U19 ABA League Championship, but they played in two finals (2018, 2019) which they lost against U19 Mega MIS and U19 Cibona, respectively. Zvezda’s kids want to break that tradition this year and win the precious trophy for the first time in club’s history.
Zvezda’s opponent in the semi-finals will be the tournament hosts U19 Igokea m:tel who are coming to the Final Four with the crown of the Youth Basketball Champions League winners on their heads. Just couple of days ago, U19 Igokea m:tel have become the first ever champions of the Youth Basketball Champions League and they now want to continue their winning spree by claiming another valuable trophy.
U19 ABA League Championship, Final Tournament, Semi-Finals, Wednesday, April 19, 2023:
U19 Mega MIS – U19 Cedevita Olimpija (16:00)
U19 Crvena zvezda – U19 Igokea m:tel (19:00)
3rd place game, Thursday, April 20, 2023:
(14:00)
Final, Thursday, April 20,2023:
(17:00)
