Conclusions of the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly Session in Zagreb
At the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly held in Zagreb, several very important decisions were made regarding the operation of the regional competition in the 2026/27 season. First and foremost, a new competition system was adopted, featuring 20 clubs, which will be divided into two groups of 10 in the first phase and will compete in a double round-robin format.
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The draw determined that Group A will consist of: Crvena zvezda Meridianbet, Cedevita Olimpija, Budućnost VOLI, Cibona, Igokea m:tel, FMP, Borac Mozzart, Krka, Slovan Bratislava and Široki TT Kabeli, while Group B will include: Dubai Basketball, Partizan Mozzart Bet, U-BT Cluj-Napoca, SC Derby, Zadar, Spartak Office Shoes, Bosna BH Telecom, Mega Superbet, Perspektiva Ilirija and Vienna.
The top four teams from each group will qualify for the Top 8, while the remaining 12 teams will compete in the Play-Out. All points earned in the first phase of the competition will be carried over, while the second phase will also be played in a double round-robin format. The top six teams from the Top 8 stage will secure direct spot for the Playoffs, while the seventh- and eighth-placed teams from the Top 8 stage and the top two teams from the Play-Out will compete in the Play-in for a place in the Playoffs.
The Playoff Quarterfinals will be played as best-of-three series, while the new Champion will be decided at the Final Four Tournament. The AdmiralBet ABA League will begin on the last weekend of September (September 26, 27 and 28), while the Final Four will take place from May 28 to 30, 2027, with the host of the final tournament to be determined at a later date.
A new leadership was also elected, with Ostoja Mijailović (Partizan Mozzart Bet) appointed President of ABA League j.t.d., while Dragan Bokan (Budućnost VOLI) and Davor Užbinec (Cedevita Olimpija) were elected as members of the Presidency.
The Assembly members were also presented with the financial report, and it was proudly noted that ABA League j.t.d. recorded revenue growth for the fifth consecutive year, this time by 18 percent, or €980,000. Total revenue amounts to €6,374,000, expenses were €3,945,000, resulting in a total profit of €2,428,959, which is 61 percent higher than last year. As in the previous year, the profit will be distributed among the League's shareholders (12 clubs).
The ABA League j.t.d. Assembly also decided to announce a public call for applications for the positions of Commissioner for Delegation of Referees, President of the Referees' Commission and Disciplinary Judge. The application process will remain open until August 10, while the final decision on these appointments, by a two-thirds majority of the Assembly members, will be made no later than August 15.
The competition system for the ABA League 2 was also determined, with 17 clubs taking part, while the draw decided the composition of all four groups. GROUP A: Vojvodina mts, Borac WWIN, Mornar-Barsko zlato, Madžari Skopje. GROUP B: TFT Skopje, Sloboda Energoinvest, GGD Šenčur, Hercegovac Aling-Conel, Podgorica Bemax. GROUP C: Sutjeska Elektroprivreda, MZT Skopje Aerodrom, Sloboda, ECE Triglav Kranj. GROUP D: Zlatibor Mozzart, Primorje 1945, Cedevita Junior, Basket Živinice.
The competition will be played in a double round-robin format, with the first-placed teams qualifying directly for the Playoffs, while the second- and third-placed teams will participate in the play-in. The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals of the ABA League 2 playoffs will be played as best-of-three series.
