2020–21 ABA League Second Division

The 2020–21 ABA League Second Division is the 4th season of the ABA Second Division with 14 teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia participating in it. The season has started on 9 November 2020.

ABA League Second Division
Season2020–21
Teams14
Dates9 November 2020 – 6 May 2021
TVArena Sport
Final positions
Top seed Studentski centar
Champions Studentski centar (1st title)
Runners-up Spars
Semifinalists Mladost
Podgorica
Awards
Finals MVP Marko Tejić
Statistical leaders
Index Rating Kenan Kamenjaš 26.2
Points Blaž Mahkovic 21.2
Rebounds Kenan Kamenjaš 10.4
Assists Daniel Vujasinović 7.1
Records
Highest scoringMladost 101–107 Zlatibor
(4 March 2021)
Winning streak9 games
Studentski centar
Losing streak10 games
Helios Suns
All statistics correct as of March 28, 2020.

The season is the first to be played after the previous season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] In accordance with the COVID-19 situation, it has been determined that the season will be played in new competition format and new calendar.

Teams

A total of 14 teams contested the league, including two representatives from all six ABA League countries. In cases where a club from an individual country does not apply for the 2020–21 season, the empty spot will be filled by awarding wild cards. The first two teams from the previous season, Borac Čačak and Split, were awarded wild cards to compete in the 2020–21 ABA League First Division.[1] On 29 June 2020, the ABA League Assembly confirmed the final list of the 2020–21 season participants.[2]

Team allocation
Location of teams in the 2020–21 ABA League Second Division

The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round:

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.: National League position
  • WC: Wild card
  • Abd-: League positions of abandoned season due to the COVID-19 pandemic as determined by the leagues
Regular season[2]
Sutjeska (Abd-1st) Široki (Abd-2nd) Sloboda Užice (2nd) MZT Skopje (Abd-1st)
Lovćen 1947 (Abd-2nd) Spars (Abd-3rd) Zlatibor (3rd) Rabotnički (Abd-2nd)
Studentski centar (WC) Borac Banja Luka (WC) Mladost Zemun (WC)
Podgorica (WC) Gorica (Abd-4th) Helios Suns (Abd-4th)

In early June 2020, seven clubs contested for four wild cards.[3][4] Later that month, Serbian club Novi Pazar withdrew its bid following failure to meet financial requirements.[5] On 29 June, the ABA League Assembly announced four wild cards recipients, including Sloboda Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Studentski centar (Montenegro), Podgorica Bemax (Montenegro) and Mladost Zemun (Serbia).[2] Teams Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Gostivar (North Macedonia) did not receive the wild card.

Reportedly, Borac Banja Luka received an invitation on 6 October 2020, after Sloboda Tuzla withdrawal.[6][7] On 13 October, the League officially confirmed Borac Banja Luka as the final participant in the 2020–21 season.[8]

Personnel and sponsorship
Team Home city Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Borac Banja Luka Dragan Nikolić Kelme MMS Code
Gorica Velika Gorica Josip Sesar Ivan Majcunić —
Helios Suns Domžale Dejan Jakara Aljaž Bratec Spalding Helios, Triglav
Lovćen 1947 Cetinje Petar Jovanović Nikola Borilović Macron —
Mladost MaxBet Belgrade Dragan Jakovljević Marko Milenković Champion MaxBet
MZT Skopje Aerodrom Skopje Darko Radulović Damjan Stojanovski Givova UNIBanka
Podgorica Podgorica Zoran Kašćelan — Master, Bemax
Rabotnički Skopje Dimitar Mirakovski Kiril Nikolovski —
Sloboda Užice Oliver Popović Stefan Simić Ardu Sport mts
Spars Sarajevo Miodrag Kadija No1 Number 1
Studentski centar Podgorica Nenad Trajković Spalding VOLI, Moj Lab
Sutjeska Nikšić Velimir Gašić Boris Lalović EP CG
Široki Široki Brijeg Damir Vujanović Jure Zubac Ardu Sport Kandit
Zlatibor Čajetina Strajin Nedović Bogdan Riznić Boje i fasade Maxima

Coaching changes
TeamOutgoing managerDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced withDate of appointmentRef.
Podgorica Vladan RadovićMay 2020Off-season Zoran KašćelanMay 2020[9]
Sutjeska Zoran Glomazić17 July 2020 Velimir Gašić17 July 2020[10]
Lovćen 1947 Zoran KašćelanMay 2020 Petar Jovanović3 August 2020[9][11]
Široki Hrvoje VlašićAugust 2020 Damir Vujanović6 August 2020[12]
Sloboda Vladimir Lučić1 November 2020 Oliver Popović1 November 2020[13]
Borac Banja Luka Marko Šćekić3 December 20206th (2–2) Dragan Nikolić3 December 2020[14][15]
Spars Nedim Džemić31 December 20207th (2–2) Miodrag Kadija2 January 2021[16][17]
MZT Skopje Aerodrom Gjorgji Kočov14 March 20214th (6–4) Darko Radulović (interim)14 March 2021[18]

Venues

The Regular season was divided in four tournaments. The first tournament was held in Čajetina, Serbia.[19] The second tournament was held in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.[20] The third tournament was held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina while the fourth was held in Čajetina.[21] The playoffs will be held in Podgorica, Montenegro.[22]

Zlatibor, Čajetina
2020–21 ABA League Second Division (Yugoslavia)
 Sarajevo
STC Zlatibor – Wai Tai Arena Hills Sports Hall
Capacity: 2,500[23] Capacity: N/A
Banja Luka Podgorica
Borik Sports Hall Morača Sports Center
Capacity: 3,060[24] Capacity: 6,000

Regular season

The Regular season was splited in four tournaments with two tournaments featuring four rounds and the last one five rounds. It will be played in a round-robin system and after 13 rounds there will be Playoffs with eight teams and Play-out with four teams.[19]

The first tournament of four rounds took place between 9 November and 18 November 2020 in Čajetina, Serbia. The Croatian club Gorica missed the first tournament due to records of several COVID-19 positive players within their team.[25] The second tournament of three rounds took place between 18 January and 24 January 2021 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.[20] The Macedonian club Rabotnički missed the second tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic situation and the restrictions.[26]

The third tournament of three rounds was held from 1–7 March 2021 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.[21]

League table
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Studentski centar 13 12 1 1119 966 +153 25 Advance to the Playoffs
2 Spars 13 10 3 1013 934 +79 23
3 Borac Banja Luka 13 9 4 1051 980 +71 22
4 Mladost MaxBet 13 8 5 1077 1030 +47 21
5 MZT Skopje Aerodrom 13 8 5 1048 986 +62 21
6 Podgorica 13 7 6 991 1023 −32 20
7 Zlatibor 13 6 7 960 1002 −42 19
8 Sloboda Užice 13 6 7 988 1002 −14 19
9 Široki 13 5 8 959 986 −27 18
10 Gorica 13 5 8 619 658 −39 18
11 Rabotnički 13 5 8 774 871 −97 18 Advance to the Playout
12 Lovćen 1947 13 5 8 990 1072 −82 18
13 Sutjeska 13 4 9 1037 1064 −27 17
14 Helios Suns 13 1 12 900 952 −52 14
Source: ABA2

Positions by round
First place & advance to the playoffs
Advance to the playoffs
Advance to the playout
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213
Studentski centar1111111111111
Spars7237526443332
Borac Banja Luka8426684232223
Mladost Maxbet57118875365554
MZT Skopje Aerodrom9642237524445
Podgorica6964358989766
Zlatibor3375463757887
Sloboda Užice11853742676678
Široki2591213109898999
Gorica13141414141412121311111110
Rabotnički141189101213131113131311
Lovćen 1947410121391111101012121212
Sutjeska1212131011910111210101013
Helios Suns10131011121314141414141414
Source: ABA2

Results
Home \ Away BOR GOR HEL LOV MLA MZT POD RAB SLO SPA STC SUT ŠIR ZLA
Borac — — 79–74 90–71 — — 98–78 — — 88–90 87–79 100–93 — 93–70
Gorica 0–20 — — — 69–76 — — 20–0 0–20 — — 92–82 — 72–57
Helios Suns — 20–0 — — 77–80 69–70 85–87 66–67 75–84 — — — 72–77 —
Lovćen 1947 Bemax — 78–80 78–71 — 80–78 55–96 — — — — 64–83 — 75–66 —
Mladost Maxbet 91–83 — — — — — — 89–73 87–89 92–77 — 80–90 — 101–107
MZT Skopje Aerodrom 99–75 77–73 — — 75–82 — 72–74 84–82 70–81 — — 92–73 — —
Podgorica — 65–72 — 83–76 71–79 — — 70–76 — 75–80 — — — 79–76
Rabotnički 77–82 — — 82–77 — — — — 87–77 0–20 — 84–62 — 0–20
Sloboda 83–89 — — 92–95 — — 51–63 — — 92–90 86–94 81–78 — 67–79
Spars — 85–84 90–73 82–76 — 76–68 — — — — 77–78 — 93–80 —
Studentski centar — 61–59 83–78 — 65–59 92–75 100–82 98–69 — — — — 98–62 —
Sutjeska — — 77–67 — — — 75–80 79–69 — 62–71 94–100 — 84–66 78–82
Široki 75–67 20–0 — — 76–83 73–80 83–84 75–82 95–85 — — — — —
Zlatibor — — 80–73 90–99 — 71–90 — — — 66–82 74–88 — 88–80 —
Source: ABA2
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Playoffs
Main article: 2021 ABA League Second Division Playoffs

Based on the results and position of the clubs in the standings after the regular season, Playoffs will take place with teams from 1st to 8th position. The Quarterfinals will be played in knockout pairs 1–8, 2–7, 3–6, 4–5. The winners of the Quarterfinals will qualify to the Semifinals and the winners of the Semifinals will play the Final.[19]

The playoff tournament will be held in Podgorica, Montenegro between 19 April and 6 May 2021.[22]

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
                
 
19–21 April
 
 
3 Borac Banja Luka9065155
 
23–25 April
 
6 Podgorica 8677 163
 
6 Podgorica6459123
 
19–21 April
 
2 Spars7274 146
 
2 Spars7982161
 
4–6 May
 
7 Zlatibor8274 156
 
2 Spars8972161
 
20–22 April
 
1 Studentski centar9971 170
 
4 Mladost MaxBet9586181
 
24–26 April
 
5 MZT Skopje Aerodrom7592 167
 
4 Mladost MaxBet8566151
 
20–22 April
 
1 Studentski centar8676 162
 
1 Studentski centar9690186
 
 
8 Sloboda Užice9280 172
 

Playout

Based on the results and position of the clubs in the standings after the regular season, Playout would take place with teams from 11th to 14th position. The Playout would be played in knockout pairs 11–14, 12–13. The defeated teams would play for the final 13th and 14th places in the standings.[19] On 3 April 2021, the playout tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]

Four clubs, Lovćen 1947, Rabotnički, Sutjeska, and Helios Suns, were qualified for the tournament.

Promotion playoffs

The 13th placed team of the First Division season and the runners-up of the Second Division season will play in the Qualifiers for a spot in the next First Division season.[27]

Qualified clubs
LeaguesClubs
First Division Split
Second Division Spars

Results
Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Split 2–1 Spars 70–76 84–64 90–60

MVP List

MVP of the Round
Round Player Team PIR
1 Miloš Popović Lovćen 194733
2 Kenan Kamenjaš Spars33
3 Femi Olujobi MZT Skopje Aerodrom33
4 Trey Drechsel Mladost Zemun46
5 Nikola Tanasković Borac Banja Luka29
6 Đorđe Milošević Sutjeska32
7 Trey Drechsel Mladost Zemun43
8 Dario Drežnjak Široki50
9 Amar Gegić Spars40
10 Aaron Thomas Široki27
11 Miloš Popović Lovćen 194735
12 Filip Bundović Rabotnički37
13 Amar Gegić Spars30
QF1 Dušan Tanasković Mladost Zemun31
QF2 Novak Musić Podgorica38
SF1 Kenan Kamenjaš Spars26
SF2 Kenan Kamenjaš Spars35
F1 Marko Tejić Studentski centar27
F2 Kenan Kamenjaš Spars26

Source: ABA 2 League

See also
2020–21 domestic competitions

References
  1. "Conclusions of the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  2. "Conclusions of the ABA League j.t.d. Assembly - 29 June 2020". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  3. "Još dva bh. kluba traže mjesto u novoj sezoni ABA 2 lige". sport.novi.ba. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  4. "Kako se popunjavaju ABA lige i kome ide "wild card"?". MONDOBA. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  5. "Novi Pazar odustao od Aba lige 2". bhbasket.ba. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  6. "ZVANIČNO U Borac došla pozivnica za drugu ABA ligu". Srpskainfo (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  7. "ZVANIČNO: Banjaluka dobila predstavnika na Jadranu! Borac će igrati Drugu ABA ligu!". mondo.ba. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  8. "Borac Banja Luka enters ABA League 2". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. "Zoran Kašćelan: Više nisam trener Lovćena". bhbasket.ba. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  10. "Velimir Gašić preuzeo Sutjesku". mozzartsport.com. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  11. "PETAR JOVANOVIĆ NOVI TRENER LOVĆENA, VRBICA I POPOVIĆ PRODUŽILI UGOVORE". cetinjskilist.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  12. "Damir Vujanović is the new head coach of Široki". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  13. "Popović preuzeo Slobodu, Lučić se iz Užica seli na klupu Vršca". mozzartsport.com. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  14. "Banjalučki Borac smijenio trenera, već poznato i ime njegovog nasljednika". sport1.oslobodjenje.ba. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  15. "Nikolić zamijenio Šćekića". glassrpske.com. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  16. "Posljednjeg dana 2020. godine rastali se Sparsi i Realway!". sportsport.ba. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  17. "Kadija replaces Džemić on Spars bench". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  18. "MZT Skopje Aerodrom and head coach Đorđi Kočov part ways". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  19. "Announcement on the ABA League 2 2020/21 season competition format". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  20. "Second Regular Season Tournament to take place in Banja Luka". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  21. "Third regular season tournament to take place in Sarajevo". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  22. "The 2021 ABA League 2 Playoffs to take place in Podgorica". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  23. "Sportska ponuda u STC Zlatibor". stczlatibor.rs. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  24. "Спортска дворана „Борик"". scborik.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  25. "Gorica unable to attend Zlatibor tournament". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  26. "Rabotnički unable to attend the start of the Banja Luka tournament". druga.aba-liga.com. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  27. "It's time for ABA 2!". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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