Commitment to the ABA League confirmed at the Assembly session in Belgrade
The shareholders of the ABA League, all 12 clubs, will in the following season remain all together concordantly on the same course as in the 2015/16 season
The clubs, shareholders of the ABA League met at the Assembly session of the ABA League in Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belgrade. After the constructive discussion and analysis of the current situation, the representatives of the league and its clubs spoke for the media at the press conference.
Dragan Bokan, President of ABA League j.t.d. and President of Budućnost VOLI:
“At today’s ABA League Assembly session we have discussed the current situation of the ABA League, related to FIBA and Euroleague. We have discussed all possible scenarios and made the following conclusions: The shareholders of the ABA League, all 12 clubs, will in the following season remain all together concordantly on the same course as in the 2015/16 season. We are monitoring the happenings in European club basketball and in the dispute between FIBA and the Euroleague closely.
We will send an invitation to national basketball federations to discuss the current situation together and to see how the most successful clubs of the region and the national basketball federations can contribute to furtherly foster the development of club basketball in the region and to try to take the brand of the ABA League to an even level higher – to make it one of the best sporting projects and sports businesses of the region.
A lot of speculations have been going on lately and regarding this I have to reveal that all ABA League clubs unanimously agreed that they wish to continue competing in the same kind of competition structure. Also, the ABA League did not receive a single document saying that we have lost the recognition of any national basketball federation or FIBA. Based on this, our only statement at this given moment can be that we are prepared for all possible situations, that we know which way we wish to go and that we wish to improve the organization of our league with every single new season. Even for our first season we can say that the league is financially stable, that we are even facing a significant profit at the moment and that we believe that in the future seasons our situation can furtherly improve.”
Mladen Veber, Vice-president of ABA League j.t.d. and President of Cedevita:
“I am satisfied that the clubs have expressed their commitment to the regional league as the foundation for the development of basketball in the region. Our initiative to establish the communication with national basketball federations is proving that we wish to solve the challenges that are in front of us proactively. We are open for discussion and the only thing that we are not ready to accept is the thing that we are put in pillory for taking a decision that is supposed to be our free choice. The clubs firmly stick to their standpoints, that they wish to qualify for the Euroleague and Eurocup competitions through the ABA League.”
Nebojša Čović, Vice-president of ABA League j.t.d. and President of Crvena zvezda Telekom:
“Our decisions have been made after in-depth analysis of the situation and documentation. We are convinced that we have not violated anything that was written in the founding acts of the league. And when the ABA League was founded, it was supported by national basketball federations with their joint statement. Also, ABA League did not receive any official decision by either national basketball federations or FIBA. Taking that into account, the ABA League will continue to exist in accordance with the previously mentioned acts. So there is no need for speculations regarding the calendar of competitions, number of participating clubs or other aspects of the league’s format.”
Jani Möderndorfer, President of Union Olimpija:
“ABA League has undergone lots of things over the previous few years. It has been established in the period when there were many tensions between nations. Therefore, I am convinced that it will survive also this virus, that emerged from the dispute between FIBA and Euroleague.”
Igor Dodik, General Manager of Igokea:
“After tomorrow’s match when we expect to become national champions again, we will have a meeting with the management of our basketball federation, if the meeting between the ABA League management and management of our federation is not held earlier. Just like our colleagues have said before, all of the clubs have agreed on the fact that the ABA League is vital for us.”
Vidoja Sekulovski, General Manager of MZT Skopje Aerodrom:
“I am glad that we have unanimously agreed with the fact that ABA League is vital for us. We have done all that we were able to do in order for Macedonia to become a part of this competition. We will continue to work in accordance with all the founding acts and rules of the league and I hope that FIBA and Euroleague will reach an agreement and that this competition will continue to exist.”
Dragan Bokan, President of ABA League j.t.d. and President of Budućnost VOLI:
“At today’s ABA League Assembly session we have discussed the current situation of the ABA League, related to FIBA and Euroleague. We have discussed all possible scenarios and made the following conclusions: The shareholders of the ABA League, all 12 clubs, will in the following season remain all together concordantly on the same course as in the 2015/16 season. We are monitoring the happenings in European club basketball and in the dispute between FIBA and the Euroleague closely.
We will send an invitation to national basketball federations to discuss the current situation together and to see how the most successful clubs of the region and the national basketball federations can contribute to furtherly foster the development of club basketball in the region and to try to take the brand of the ABA League to an even level higher – to make it one of the best sporting projects and sports businesses of the region.
A lot of speculations have been going on lately and regarding this I have to reveal that all ABA League clubs unanimously agreed that they wish to continue competing in the same kind of competition structure. Also, the ABA League did not receive a single document saying that we have lost the recognition of any national basketball federation or FIBA. Based on this, our only statement at this given moment can be that we are prepared for all possible situations, that we know which way we wish to go and that we wish to improve the organization of our league with every single new season. Even for our first season we can say that the league is financially stable, that we are even facing a significant profit at the moment and that we believe that in the future seasons our situation can furtherly improve.”
Mladen Veber, Vice-president of ABA League j.t.d. and President of Cedevita:
“I am satisfied that the clubs have expressed their commitment to the regional league as the foundation for the development of basketball in the region. Our initiative to establish the communication with national basketball federations is proving that we wish to solve the challenges that are in front of us proactively. We are open for discussion and the only thing that we are not ready to accept is the thing that we are put in pillory for taking a decision that is supposed to be our free choice. The clubs firmly stick to their standpoints, that they wish to qualify for the Euroleague and Eurocup competitions through the ABA League.”
Nebojša Čović, Vice-president of ABA League j.t.d. and President of Crvena zvezda Telekom:
“Our decisions have been made after in-depth analysis of the situation and documentation. We are convinced that we have not violated anything that was written in the founding acts of the league. And when the ABA League was founded, it was supported by national basketball federations with their joint statement. Also, ABA League did not receive any official decision by either national basketball federations or FIBA. Taking that into account, the ABA League will continue to exist in accordance with the previously mentioned acts. So there is no need for speculations regarding the calendar of competitions, number of participating clubs or other aspects of the league’s format.”
Jani Möderndorfer, President of Union Olimpija:
“ABA League has undergone lots of things over the previous few years. It has been established in the period when there were many tensions between nations. Therefore, I am convinced that it will survive also this virus, that emerged from the dispute between FIBA and Euroleague.”
Igor Dodik, General Manager of Igokea:
“After tomorrow’s match when we expect to become national champions again, we will have a meeting with the management of our basketball federation, if the meeting between the ABA League management and management of our federation is not held earlier. Just like our colleagues have said before, all of the clubs have agreed on the fact that the ABA League is vital for us.”
Vidoja Sekulovski, General Manager of MZT Skopje Aerodrom:
“I am glad that we have unanimously agreed with the fact that ABA League is vital for us. We have done all that we were able to do in order for Macedonia to become a part of this competition. We will continue to work in accordance with all the founding acts and rules of the league and I hope that FIBA and Euroleague will reach an agreement and that this competition will continue to exist.”
O. Cauchi
@paxer89
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