# 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.

## Competition format

The Romanian Basketball Federation agreed a change in the competition format for the 2018–19 season:
* 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.

### Other teams

* Miercurea Ciuc, CSM Focșani and CSM Târgu Mureș were enrolled in the Liga Națională.

## Teams
### 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 |
| Steaua | Bucharest | Polyvalent Hall | 3,500 |
| U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Cluj-Napoca | Polyvalent Hall | 7,308 |
| U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Cluj-Napoca | Horia Demian | 2,525 |
| U FC Argeș | Pitești | Trivale | 2,000 |

### 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

| 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
### Group A
#### 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 | Qualification to Red Group |
| 3 | Craiova | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1133 | 1118 | +15 | 24 | Qualification to Red Group |
| 4 | Oradea | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1169 | 1099 | +70 | 23 | Qualification to Red Group |
| 5 | U FC Argeș | 14 | 6 | 8 | 1184 | 1206 | −22 | 20 | Qualification to Red Group |
| 6 | Timișoara | 14 | 5 | 9 | 1141 | 1178 | −37 | 19 | Qualification to Red Group |
| 7 | Steaua | 14 | 4 | 10 | 1001 | 1083 | −82 | 18 | Qualification to Yellow Group |
| 8 | Dinamo Știința | 14 | 0 | 14 | 1093 | 1253 | −160 | 14 | Qualification to Yellow Group |

#### 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 | — |

### Group B
#### 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 | Qualification to Yellow Group |
| 3 | Athletic Constanța | 12 | 6 | 6 | 931 | 750 | +181 | 18 | Qualification to Yellow Group |
| 4 | Cuza Sport Brăila | 12 | 0 | 12 | 449 | 1296 | −847 | 12 | Withdrew |

#### 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 | — |

### Group C
#### 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 | Qualification to Blue Group |
| 4 | Focșani | 18 | 11 | 7 | 1398 | 1307 | +91 | 29 | Qualification to Blue Group |
| 5 | Târgu Jiu | 18 | 11 | 7 | 1448 | 1413 | +35 | 29 | Qualification to Blue Group |
| 6 | Rapid București | 18 | 8 | 10 | 1243 | 1388 | −145 | 26 | Qualification to Blue Group |
| 7 | Miercurea Ciuc | 18 | 7 | 11 | 1375 | 1465 | −90 | 25 | Qualification to Blue Group |
| 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 | Qualification to Green Group |
| 10 | Aurel Vlaicu București | 18 | 1 | 17 | 1025 | 1475 | −450 | 19 | Qualification to Green Group |

#### 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 | — |

## Second stage
### Red Group
#### 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 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 3 | Oradea | 24 | 15 | 9 | 1956 | 1879 | +77 | 39 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 4 | Craiova | 24 | 12 | 12 | 1867 | 1921 | −54 | 36 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 5 | Timișoara | 24 | 10 | 14 | 1977 | 2031 | −54 | 34 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 6 | U FC Argeș | 24 | 10 | 14 | 2020 | 2080 | −60 | 34 | Qualification to Play-offs |

#### 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 | — |

### Yellow Group
#### 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 | Qualification to Play-offs |
| 3 | Voluntari | 10 | 8 | 2 | 839 | 751 | +88 | 18 | Qualification to Play-out |
| 4 | Phoenix Galați | 10 | 4 | 6 | 746 | 796 | −50 | 14 | Qualification to Play-out |
| 5 | Mediaș | 10 | 1 | 9 | 728 | 865 | −137 | 11 | Qualification to Play-out |
| 6 | Athletic Constanța | 10 | 1 | 9 | 694 | 857 | −163 | 11 | Qualification to Play-out |

#### 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 | — |

### Blue Group
#### 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 | Qualification to Play-out |
| 3 | Focșani | 28 | 17 | 11 | 2155 | 2053 | +102 | 45 | Qualification to Play-out |
| 4 | Târgu Jiu | 28 | 13 | 15 | 2187 | 2319 | −132 | 41 | Qualification to Play-out |
| 5 | Miercurea Ciuc | 28 | 12 | 16 | 2223 | 2329 | −106 | 40 | Qualification to Play-out |
| 6 | Rapid București | 28 | 11 | 17 | 1979 | 2199 | −220 | 39 | Qualification to Play-out |

#### 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 | — |

### Green Group
#### 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 | Qualification to Play-out |
| 3 | Aurel Vlaicu București | 24 | 2 | 22 | 1394 | 1894 | −500 | 26 | Qualification to Play-out |

#### 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 | — |

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

### 5th to 8th

All series were played in a best-of-three games format.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| U FC Argeș | 87 | 70 | 87 |
| Steaua | 64 | 73 | 72 | | | | |
| Steaua | 64 | 73 | 72 | Timișoara | 75 | 69 | 72 |
| | | | | U FC Argeș | 61 | 95 | 79 |
| Timișoara | Timișoara | 115 | 91 | U FC Argeș | 61 | 95 | 79 |
| Dinamo Știința | Dinamo Știința | 87 | 76 | | | | |
| Dinamo Știința | Dinamo Știința | 87 | 76 | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | | Steaua | Steaua | 75 | 71 |
| | | | | Dinamo Știința | Dinamo Știința | 68 | 58 |

## 9th to 16th position

All series were played by two-legged series.

### Bracket

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Voluntari | 114 | 106 | 220 | | | | |
| Miercurea Ciuc | 82 | 98 | 180 | | | | |
| Miercurea Ciuc | 82 | 98 | 180 | Voluntari | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | | | | Târgu Mureș | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phoenix Galați | 77 | 95 | 172 | Târgu Mureș | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Focșani | 72 | 78 | 150 | | | | | | | | |
| Focșani | 72 | 78 | 150 | | | | | Voluntari | 106 | 68 | 174 |
| | | | | | | | | Phoenix Galați | 84 | 62 | 146 |
| Mediaș | 91 | 74 | 165 | | | | | Phoenix Galați | 84 | 62 | 146 |
| Sighetu Marmației | 84 | 61 | 145 | | | | | | | | |
| Sighetu Marmației | 84 | 61 | 145 | Phoenix Galați | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | Mediaș | 0 | 0 | 0 | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| Athletic Constanța | 70 | 92 | 162 | Mediaș | 0 | 0 | 0 | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| Târgu Mureș | 78 | 94 | 172 | | | | | | | | |
| 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 | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Sighetu Marmației | Sighetu Marmației | 93 | 89 |
| Focșani | Focșani | 81 | 73 | | | | |
| Focșani | Focșani | 81 | 73 | Athletic Constanța | 66 | 84 | 86 |
| | | | | Sighetu Marmației | 75 | 80 | 80 |
| Athletic Constanța | Athletic Constanța | 76 | 91 | Sighetu Marmației | 75 | 80 | 80 |
| Miercurea Ciuc | Miercurea Ciuc | 71 | 88 | | | | |
| Miercurea Ciuc | Miercurea Ciuc | 71 | 88 | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | | Focșani | Focșani | 55 | 64 |
| | | | | Miercurea Ciuc | 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 |

## Final rankings

| | Team | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Oradea | 2019–20 Basketball Champions League |
| 2 | Sibiu | 2019–20 FIBA Europe Cup |
| 3 | U-BT Cluj | 2019–20 FIBA Europe Cup |
| 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 | Relegation to Liga I |
| 19 | Târgu Jiu | Relegation to Liga I |
| 20 | Universitatea Cluj-Napoca | Relegation to Liga I |
| 21 | Aurel Vlaicu București | Relegation to Liga I |
| 22 | Cuza Sport Brăila | Withdrew |

## Romanian clubs in European competitions

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