2018–19 Liga Națională (men's basketball)

The 2018–19 Liga Națională season will be the 69th season of the Liga Națională, the highest professional basketball league in Romania. This will be the first season under a new format, which increases the number of teams to 22. CSM U Oradea are the defending champions.

Liga Națională
Season	2018–19
Teams	21
Dates	5 October 2018 – 4 June 2019
Final positions
Champions	Oradea (3rd title)
Runners-up	Sibiu
Third place	U-BT Cluj
Fourth place	Craiova
← 2017–18 2019–20 →

Competition format

The Romanian Basketball Federation agreed a change in the competition format for the 2018–19 season:[1][2]

• 22 teams (divided into 3 value groups: A, B and C) played the regular season, consisting in a double-legged round robin format.
  • Group A consist of the top 8 ranked teams from the 2017–18 Liga Națională.
  • Group B consist of top 4 ranked teams from the 2017–18 Liga I.
  • Group C consist of the other teams that played in the 2017–18 Liga Națională, 2017–18 Liga I or newly formed teams (which respect the financial and infrastructure criteria), but which not have the right to advance in this season to the final stages of the championship.
• At the end of the regular season, teams are split into four groups (Red, Yellow, Blue and Green).
  • Red Group consist of the top 6 ranked teams from the Group A.
  • Yellow Group consist of the bottom 2 ranked teams from the Group A, top 3 teams from the Group B and the winner of the Group C.
  • Blue Group consist of the 4th place from the Group B and 2nd to 6th places from the Group C.
  • Green Group consist of the 7th to 10th places from the Group C.
• All teams from the Red Group (from 1st to 6th place) and the top 2 ranked teams from the Yellow Group will join the play-offs. In this knockout stage, quarterfinals and semifinals will be played with a best-of-five-games format.
  • To decide the teams ranked between 5th and 8th place will be used the best-of-three-games format.
  • The rest of the teams from the Yellow, Blue and Green Groups (16 teams) will form 2 groups of 8 teams and will play to decide the final rankings.
• Last six teams of play out phase (17th-22nd place) will be relegated to Liga I

Team changes

Promoted from Liga I

Cuza Sport Brăila Aurel Vlaicu București Athletic Constanța CSO Voluntari

CSM BC Sighetu Marmației CSM Mediaș Rapid București ACS Târgu Jiu

Agronomia București Universitatea Cluj-Napoca

Excluded teams

• BC Mureș was dissolved.[3]

Other teams

• Miercurea Ciuc, CSM Focșani and CSM Târgu Mureș were enrolled in the Liga Națională.[4]

Teams

Group A

Argeș

Craiova

Dinamo

Oradea

Sibiu

Steaua

Timișoara

U-BT

Location of teams in 2018–19 Liga Națională (Group A)

Team	City	Arena	Capacity
Craiova	Craiova	Polyvalent Hall	4,215
Dinamo Stiinta	Bucharest	Dinamo	2,538
Oradea	Oradea	Arena Antonio Alexe	2,000
SCM	Timișoara	Constantin Jude	2,200
Sibiu	Sibiu	Transilvania	3,000
Steaua	Bucharest	Mihai Viteazu	2,000
		Polyvalent Hall	3,500
U-BT Cluj-Napoca	Cluj-Napoca	Polyvalent Hall	7,308
		Horia Demian	2,525
U FC Argeș	Pitești	Trivale	2,000

Group B

Athletic

Cuza Sport

Mediaș

Voluntari

Location of teams in 2018–19 Liga Națională (Group B)

Team	City	Arena	Capacity
Athletic	Constanța	Sala Sporturilor	1,500
Cuza Sport	Brăila	Danubius	2,000
CSM	Mediaș	Sala Sporturilor	461
Voluntari	Voluntari	Gabriela Szabo	1,100

Group C

Agronomia

Aurel Vlaicu

Focșani

Miercurea Ciuc

Phoenix

Rapid

Sighetu Marmației

Tg.Jiu

Tg.Mureș

U Cluj

Location of teams in 2018–19 Liga Națională (Group C)

Team	City	Arena	Capacity
Agronomia București	București	Arena de Baschet	350
Aurel Vlaicu București	București	Sala Unirea	300
Focșani	Focșani	Vrancea	1,400
Miercurea Ciuc	Miercurea Ciuc	Eröss Zsolt	1,700
Phoenix Galați	Galați	Dunărea	1,500
Rapid București	București	Rapid	1,500
Sighetu Marmației	Sighetu Marmației	Dragoș Vodă	200
Târgu Jiu	Târgu Jiu	Sala Sporturilor	1,500
Târgu Mureș	Târgu Mureș	Sala Sporturilor	2,000
Universitatea	Cluj-Napoca	Horia Demian	2,525

Regular season

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Sibiu	14	11	3	1237	1093	+144	25	Qualification to Red Group
2	U-BT Cluj	14	11	3	1172	1100	+72	25
3	Craiova	14	10	4	1133	1118	+15	24
4	Oradea	14	9	5	1169	1099	+70	23
5	U FC Argeș	14	6	8	1184	1206	−22	20
6	Timișoara	14	5	9	1141	1178	−37	19
7	Steaua	14	4	10	1001	1083	−82	18	Qualification to Yellow Group
8	Dinamo Știința	14	0	14	1093	1253	−160	14

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation

Results

Home \ Away	CRA	DIN	ORA	TIM	SIB	STE	UBT	FCA
Craiova	—	76–69	92–78	93–65	74–71	75–66	72–70	99–89
Dinamo Stiinta	89–95	—	77–91	70–83	92–96	70–77	85–96	84–91
Oradea	85–69	85–69	—	76–65	78–68	92–83	69–72	82–76
SCM Timișoara	73–74	83–70	76–99	—	87–99	78–62	86–90	99–83
Sibiu	107–82	101–75	97–81	90–78	—	81–66	85–74	95–69
Steaua	65–72	81–66	81–74	70–85	71–75	—	73–81	64–75
U-BT Cluj-Napoca	95–68	96–89	93–78	91–88	84–80	67–71	—	80–76
U FC Argeș	96–92	98–73	81–101	96–91	82–92	92–71	80–83	—

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Voluntari	12	10	2	1124	747	+377	22	Qualification to Yellow Group
2	Mediaș	12	8	4	1141	852	+289	20
3	Athletic Constanța	12	6	6	931	750	+181	18
4	Cuza Sport Brăila	12	0	12	449	1296	−847	12	Withdrew

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation

Results

Home \ Away	ATH	CSB	MED	VOL	ATH	CSB	MED	VOL
Athletic Constanța	—	87–38	77–83	74–84	—	120–33	84–83	65–67
Cuza Sport Brăila	24–104	—	68–100	57–84	0–20	—	42–113	29–126
Mediaș	90–82	156–39	—	73–80	77–81	127–46	—	83–79
Voluntari	95–68	133–33	84–87	—	76–69	126–40	90–69	—

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Phoenix Galați	18	17	1	1708	1237	+471	35	Qualification to Yellow Group
2	Târgu Mureș	18	17	1	1887	1233	+654	35	Qualification to Blue Group
3	Sighetu Marmației	18	13	5	1530	1396	+134	31
4	Focșani	18	11	7	1398	1307	+91	29
5	Târgu Jiu	18	11	7	1448	1413	+35	29
6	Rapid București	18	8	10	1243	1388	−145	26
7	Miercurea Ciuc	18	7	11	1375	1465	−90	25
8	Agronomia București	18	4	14	1182	1420	−238	22	Qualification to Green Group
9	Universitatea Cluj-Napoca	18	1	17	1143	1605	−462	19
10	Aurel Vlaicu București	18	1	17	1025	1475	−450	19

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation

Results

Home \ Away	AGR	AVB	MIE	FOC	PHX	RAP	SIG	TGJ	TGM	UCJ
Agronomia București	—	67–57	73–81	60–73	48–93	74–77	57–84	66–78	49–76	84–67
Aurel Vlaicu București	47–57	—	66–83	60–79	57–77	46–61	56–83	77–90	43–110	71–60
Miercurea Ciuc	85–75	81–65	—	77–62	70–89	68–77	86–93	96–98	76–105	79–68
Focșani	85–66	76–47	83–81	—	71–90	94–69	77–82	86–83	53–91	84–50
Phoenix Galați	93–68	99–49	110–59	86–70	—	97–61	101–76	81–71	96–89	118–69
Rapid București	82–64	80–60	70–68	69–78	69–94	—	39–78	87–102	45–84	97–67
Sighetu Marmației	99–69	87–66	89–78	79–76	89–109	85–72	—	92–80	80–107	101–62
Târgu Jiu	83–65	82–62	74–51	62–80	77–82	70–67	80–76	—	60–100	78–74
Târgu Mureș	111–63	128–51	110–79	106–95	93–88	108–50	98–65	112–89	—	137–90
Universitatea Cluj-Napoca	49–77	75–45	58–77	49–76	51–105	51–71	83–92	59–91	61–122	—

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

Second stage

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Sibiu	24	18	6	2061	1844	+217	42	Qualification to Play-offs
2	U-BT Cluj	24	17	7	2004	1888	+116	41
3	Oradea	24	15	9	1956	1879	+77	39
4	Craiova	24	12	12	1867	1921	−54	36
5	Timișoara	24	10	14	1977	2031	−54	34
6	U FC Argeș	24	10	14	2020	2080	−60	34

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation

Results

Home \ Away	CRA	ORA	SIB	TIM	FCA	UBT
Craiova	—	78–80	59–75	88–83	80–76	69–95
Oradea	83–79	—	69–83	85–88	81–73	75–63
Sibiu	77–68	70–72	—	97–71	104–86	72–78
Timișoara	74–71	83–90	86–79	—	100–84	80–78
U FC Argeș	83–80	90–81	74–78	86–85	—	80–79
U-BT Cluj	77–62	73–71	88–89	95–86	106–104	—

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Steaua	10	8	2	832	661	+171	18	Qualification to Play-offs
2	Dinamo Știința	10	8	2	835	744	+91	18
3	Voluntari	10	8	2	839	751	+88	18	Qualification to Play-out
4	Phoenix Galați	10	4	6	746	796	−50	14
5	Mediaș	10	1	9	728	865	−137	11
6	Athletic Constanța	10	1	9	694	857	−163	11

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation

Results

Home \ Away	ATH	DIN	MED	PHX	STE	VOL
Athletic Constanța	—	69–85	78–74	62–79	48–82	66–91
Dinamo Știința	85–73	—	95–70	84–75	73–67	78–66
Mediaș	79–73	79–91	—	74–86	55–81	84–92
Phoenix Galați	81–74	80–99	80–56	—	63–87	72–97
Steaua	107–78	85–75	84–60	94–64	—	72–77
Voluntari	94–73	80–70	105–97	69–66	68–73	—

Updated to match(es) played on update. Source: Romanian Basketball Federation
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Târgu Mureș	28	26	2	2818	1949	+869	54	Qualification to Play-out
2	Sighetu Marmației	28	18	10	2400	2234	+166	46
3	Focșani	28	17	11	2155	2053	+102	45
4	Târgu Jiu	28	13	15	2187	2319	−132	41
5	Miercurea Ciuc	28	12	16	2223	2329	−106	40
6	Rapid București	28	11	17	1979	2199	−220	39

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation

Results

Home \ Away	FOC	MIE	RAP	SIG	TGJ	TGM
Focșani	—	75–73	83–58	98–83	83–73	76–93
Miercurea Ciuc	89–81	—	82–80	122–117	90–76	70–88
Rapid București	65–74	89–86	—	81–77	85–73	65–85
Sighetu Marmației	82–52	96–85	77–67	—	97–83	79–75
Târgu Jiu	54–79	78–87	75–74	78–77	—	65–107
Târgu Mureș	76–56	84–64	99–72	97–85	127–84	—

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Agronomia București	24	10	14	1639	1819	−180	34	Qualification to Play-out
2	Universitatea Cluj-Napoca	24	3	21	1568	2038	−470	27
3	Aurel Vlaicu București	24	2	22	1394	1894	−500	26

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation

Results

Home \ Away	AGR	AVB	UCJ	AGR	AVB	UCJ
Agronomia București	—	79–56	81–71	—	—	84–80
Aurel Vlaicu București	69–81	—	63–70	51–57	—	—
Universitatea Cluj-Napoca	72–75	66–69	—	—	66–61	—

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

All series were played in a best-of-five games format, except the third place match which was played in best-of-three games format.

Bracket

	Quarter-finals								Semi-finals								Final
	Sibiu		81	91	56	84
	Dinamo Știința		75	82	64	65
									Sibiu		83	88	79	74
									Craiova		61	59	81	58
	Craiova	69	88	90	78	67
	Timișoara	71	72	78	96	62
																	Sibiu		87	62	71	66
																	Oradea		89	64	64	75
	U-BT Cluj			72	71	69
	Steaua			64	68	66
									U-BT Cluj		86	92	74	86
									Oradea		90	82	82	91			Third place
	Oradea			81	74	93
	U FC Argeș			77	73	87
																	U-BT Cluj				89	92
																	Craiova				82	79

5th to 8th

All series were played in a best-of-three games format.

	Semi-finals						Final
	U FC Argeș	87	70	87
	Steaua	64	73	72
							Timișoara	75	69	72
							U FC Argeș	61	95	79
	Timișoara		115	91
	Dinamo Știința		87	76
							Third place
							Steaua		75	71
							Dinamo Știința		68	58

9th to 16th position

All series were played by two-legged series.

Bracket

	Quarter-finals						Semi-finals						Final
	Voluntari	114	106	220
	Miercurea Ciuc	82	98	180
							Voluntari	1	1	2
							Târgu Mureș	0	0	0
	Phoenix Galați	77	95	172
	Focșani	72	78	150
													Voluntari	106	68	174
													Phoenix Galați	84	62	146
	Mediaș	91	74	165
	Sighetu Marmației	84	61	145
							Phoenix Galați	1	1	2
							Mediaș	0	0	0			Third place
	Athletic Constanța	70	92	162
	Târgu Mureș	78	94	172
													Mediaș	60	89	149
													Târgu Mureș	85	92	177

13th to 16th

All series were played in a best-of-three games format.

	Semi-finals						Final
	Sighetu Marmației		93	89
	Focșani		81	73
							Athletic Constanța	66	84	86
							Sighetu Marmației	75	80	80
	Athletic Constanța		76	91
	Miercurea Ciuc		71	88
							Third place
							Focșani		55	64
							Miercurea Ciuc		73	109

17th to 21st position

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
17	Agronomia București	4	3	1	283	266	+17	7
18	Rapid București	4	3	1	285	235	+50	7
19	Târgu Jiu	4	2	2	260	277	−17	6
20	Universitatea Cluj-Napoca	4	1	3	291	309	−18	5
21	Aurel Vlaicu București	4	1	3	228	260	−32	5

Source: Romanian Basketball Federation

Final rankings

	Team	Qualification or relegation
1	Oradea	2019–20 Basketball Champions League
2	Sibiu	2019–20 FIBA Europe Cup
3	U-BT Cluj
4	Craiova
5	U FC Argeș
6	Timișoara
7	Steaua
8	Dinamo Știința
9	Voluntari
10	Phoenix Galați
11	Târgu Mureș
12	Mediaș
13	Athletic Constanța
14	Sighetu Marmației
15	Miercurea Ciuc
16	Focșani
17	Agronomia București	Relegation to Liga I
18	Rapid București
19	Târgu Jiu
20	Universitatea Cluj-Napoca
21	Aurel Vlaicu București
22	Cuza Sport Brăila	Withdrew

Romanian clubs in European competitions

Team	Competition	Progress
Oradea	Champions League	First qualifying round
	FIBA Europe Cup	Regular season
Steaua		Regular season
U-BT Cluj-Napoca		Second qualifying round

References

1. Decizii ale Consiliului Director din 23.05.2018. frbaschet.ro (in Romanian)
2. Cum va arăta Liga Națională de Baschet Masculin sezonul viitor. totalbaschet.ro (in Romanian)
3. Inevitabilul s-a produs! BC Mureș s-a retras din Liga Națională. totalbaschet.ro (in Romanian)
4. 22 de echipe înscrise în primul sezon al Ligii Naționale, în noul format de „Superligă”. totalbaschet.ro (in Romanian)

External links

• Official site of the Romanian Basketball Federation
• Halfcourt.info (Romanian and English)
• Numaibaschet.ro (Romanian)
• Baschetromania.ro (Romanian)