The Junior ABA League, officially known as the U19 ABA League Championship, is a regional boy's youth age basketball tournament that is contested between the youth selections of basketball clubs from the ABA League. It is run by the ABA League JTD. It is a regional competition between men's teams from six countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.
History The ABA League Assembly, held on July 24, 2017 in Belgrade, Serbia, decided to organize the Junior League with a desire to strengthen its position as the main power for development of basketball in the region. On October 26, 2017, participants, hosts and dates for the inaugural tournament was confirmed.
Mega Bemax became champions of the first-ever U19 ABA League Championship Final Four tournament, which took place in Laktaši in 2018, as they have beaten Crvena zvezda. In 2019, the second Final Four tournament took place in Slavonski Brod, where Cibona became champion beating Crvena zvezda in the final.
On 12 March 2020, the ABA League Assembly temporarily suspended the 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 27 May 2020, the ABA League Assembly canceled indefinitely the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finals Season Host city Champion Runner-up Score MVP Champion's Coach Laktaši Mega Bemax U19 Crvena zvezda U19 82–60 Goga Bitadze Vlada Vukoičić Slavonski Brod Cibona U19 Crvena zvezda U19 73–68 Roko Prkačin Ivan Juran BelgradeCanceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Čajetina Mega Soccerbet U19 Budućnost VOLI U19 92–83 Nikola Jović Dragoljub Avramović Ljubljana Mega Mozzart U19 SC Derby U19 88–74 Andrija Grbović Dragoljub Avramović
Records and statistics
By club ClubWonRunner-upYears wonYears runner-up Mega Basket2018, 2021, 2022— Cibona2019— Crvena zvezda—2018, 2019 Budućnost—2021 Studentski centar—2022
By country Club / NationWonRunner-upFinals
Awards Ideal Starting Five Most Valuable Player
See also Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament VTB United Youth League
References
External links Junior Adriatic League Adriatic League page at Eurobasket.com