# 2018–19 Liga Nacional de Básquet season

The 2018–19 Liga Nacional de Básquet season is the 35th season of the top professional basketball league in Argentina. The season started on 22 September 2017 with the Torneo Súper 20, which finished on 22 December 2018. The regular season began on 5 December 2018 and finished on 12 May 2019. Following the last season, the competition continues with all 20 teams being placed in a single group, playing a double round-robin, where the best 16 teams at the end of the season qualify for the championship playoffs, while the two teams with the worst record play in a best-of-five relegation series. Before the start of the regular season, the Torneo Súper 20 took place, which awarded two berths to the 2019 Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol. Quilmes was relegated after losing the playoff series against Atenas.

## Relegation and promotion

La Liga Argentina de Básquet Champions Libertad covered the berth left by Salta Basket, who lost the relegation playoffs against Ferro Carril Oeste.

## Clubs

| Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
| Argentino (J) | Junín | El Fortín de las Morochas | 1,500 |
| Atenas | Córdoba | Carlos Cerutti | 3,730 |
| Boca Juniors | Buenos Aires | Luis Conde | 2,000 |
| Ciclista Olímpico | La Banda | Vicente Rosales | 3,400 |
| Comunicaciones | Mercedes | Estadio de Comunicaciones | 3,500 |
| Estudiantes Concordia | Concordia | Gigante Verde | 1,610 |
| Ferro Carril Oeste | Buenos Aires | Estadio Héctor Etchart | 4,500 |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) | Comodoro Rivadavia | Socios Fundadores | 2,276 |
| Hispano Americano | Río Gallegos | Gimnasio Boxing Club | 3,000 |
| Instituto | Córdoba | Angel Sandrin | 2,000 |
| La Unión | Formosa | Cincuentenario | 4,500 |
| Libertad | Sunchales | El Hogar de los Tigres | 4,000 |
| Obras Basket | Buenos Aires | Estadio Obras | 3,100 |
| Peñarol | Mar del Plata | Islas Malvinas | 8,000 |
| Quilmes | Mar del Plata | Once Unidos | 3,000 |
| Quimsa | Santiago del Estero | Estadio Ciudad | 5,200 |
| Regatas Corrientes | Corrientes | José Jorge Contte | 4,000 |
| San Lorenzo | Buenos Aires | Polideportivo Roberto Pando | 2,200 |
| San Martín (C) | Corrientes | Raúl A. Ortiz | 2,500 |
| Weber Bahía | Bahía Blanca | Osvaldo Casanova | 3,950 |

## Torneo Súper 20

The second edition of the pre-season tournament Torneo Súper 20 took place between 22 September and 22 december 2018. Four groups of five teams each were formed, and played a double round-robin. The top three teams from each group advanced to the playoff stage directly, while the fourth and fifth teams of each group were paired in four best-of-three series to grant the four remaining berths for the playoff stage. The playoff stage consisted of best-of-three series up to the semifinals, where a final four, single-elimination match format was used.

### First stage
#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Qualification |
| 1 | Estudiantes Concordia | 8 | 5 | 3 | .625 | Playoffs |
| 2 | La Unión | 8 | 4 | 4 | .500 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Comunicaciones | 8 | 4 | 4 | .500 | Playoffs |
| 4 | San Martín (C) | 8 | 4 | 4 | .500 | Repechage |
| 5 | Regatas Corrientes | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | Repechage |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Qualification |
| 1 | Atenas | 8 | 5 | 3 | .625 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Instituto | 8 | 5 | 3 | .625 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Quimsa | 8 | 4 | 4 | .500 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Libertad | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | Repechage |
| 5 | Ciclista Olímpico | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | Repechage |

#### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Qualification |
| 1 | San Lorenzo | 8 | 7 | 1 | .875 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Obras Basket | 8 | 5 | 3 | .625 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 8 | 4 | 4 | .500 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Boca Juniors | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | Repechage |
| 5 | Hispano Americano | 8 | 1 | 7 | .125 | Repechage |

#### Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Qualification |
| 1 | Peñarol | 8 | 6 | 2 | .750 | Playoffs |
| 2 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) | 8 | 5 | 3 | .625 | Playoffs |
| 3 | Argentino (J) | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Weber Bahía | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | Repechage |
| 5 | Quilmes | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | Repechage |

### Playoffs

| Repechage | Repechage | Repechage | First round | First round | First round | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | C1 | San Lorenzo | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | D4 | Weber Bahía | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| D4 | Weber Bahía | 2 | D4 | Weber Bahía | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| D5 | Quilmes | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| D5 | Quilmes | 0 | | | | C1 | San Lorenzo | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | C3 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | D2 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | C3 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | C1 | San Lorenzo | 88 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | A3 | Comunicaciones | 81 | | | |
| | | | A1 | Estudiantes Concordia | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | B5 | Ciclista Olímpico | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| B4 | Libertad | 0 | B5 | Ciclista Olímpico | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| B5 | Ciclista Olímpico | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| B5 | Ciclista Olímpico | 2 | | | | A3 | Comunicaciones | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | B5 | Ciclista Olímpico | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | B2 | Instituto | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | A3 | Comunicaciones | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | C1 | San Lorenzo | 70 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | B3 | Quimsa | 76 |
| | | | D1 | Peñarol | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | C5 | Hispano Americano | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| C4 | Boca Juniors | 0 | C5 | Hispano Americano | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| C5 | Hispano Americano | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C5 | Hispano Americano | 2 | | | | C2 | Obras Basket | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | C5 | Hispano Americano | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | C2 | Obras Basket | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | D3 | Argentino (J) | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | C2 | Obras Basket | 67 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | B3 | Quimsa | 78 | | | |
| | | | B1 | Atenas | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | A5 | Regatas Corrientes | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| A4 | San Martín (C) | 0 | A5 | Regatas Corrientes | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| A5 | Regatas Corrientes | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A5 | Regatas Corrientes | 2 | | | | B3 | Quimsa | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | A5 | Regatas Corrientes | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | A2 | La Unión | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | B3 | Quimsa | 2 | | | | | | | | | |

## Regular season
### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | San Lorenzo | 38 | 32 | 6 | .842 | Championship Playoffs |
| 2 | Instituto | 38 | 25 | 13 | .658 | Championship Playoffs |
| 3 | Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) | 38 | 23 | 15 | .605 | Championship Playoffs |
| 4 | Comunicaciones | 38 | 23 | 15 | .605 | Championship Playoffs |
| 5 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 38 | 23 | 15 | .605 | Championship Playoffs |
| 6 | Obras Sanitarias | 38 | 22 | 16 | .579 | Championship Playoffs |
| 7 | Regatas Corrientes | 38 | 21 | 17 | .553 | Championship Playoffs |
| 8 | Boca Juniors | 38 | 20 | 18 | .526 | Championship Playoffs |
| 9 | Estudiantes Concordia | 38 | 20 | 18 | .526 | Championship Playoffs |
| 10 | San Martín (C) | 38 | 19 | 19 | .500 | Championship Playoffs |
| 11 | Ciclista Olímpico | 38 | 18 | 20 | .474 | Championship Playoffs |
| 12 | Quimsa | 38 | 18 | 20 | .474 | Championship Playoffs |
| 13 | Libertad | 38 | 17 | 21 | .447 | Championship Playoffs |
| 14 | La Unión | 38 | 17 | 21 | .447 | Championship Playoffs |
| 15 | Weber Bahía | 38 | 15 | 23 | .395 | Championship Playoffs |
| 16 | Hispano Americano | 38 | 15 | 23 | .395 | Championship Playoffs |
| 17 | Argentino (J) | 38 | 14 | 24 | .368 | |
| 18 | Peñarol | 38 | 14 | 24 | .368 | |
| 19 | Atenas | 38 | 12 | 26 | .316 | Relegation playoffs |
| 20 | Quilmes | 38 | 12 | 26 | .316 | Relegation playoffs |

## Playoffs

Playoffs began on 15 May. The relegation series between Atenas and Quilmes began on 18 May.

### Championship playoffs

| First round | First round | First round | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Championship finals | Championship finals | Championship finals |
| 1 | San Lorenzo | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Hispano Americano | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Hispano Americano | 0 | 1 | San Lorenzo | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Boca Juniors | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Boca Juniors | 3 | 8 | Boca Juniors | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Estudiantes Concordia | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Estudiantes Concordia | 2 | | | | 1 | San Lorenzo | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 1 | | | | |
| 4 | Comunicaciones | 3 | | | | | | | 5 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 1 | | | | |
| 13 | Libertad | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Libertad | 2 | 4 | Comunicaciones | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 3 | 5 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Quimsa | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Quimsa | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | San Lorenzo | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Instituto | 3 |
| 2 | Instituto | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Instituto | 3 |
| 15 | Weber Bahía | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Weber Bahía | 0 | 2 | Instituto | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | Regatas Corrientes | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Regatas Corrientes | 3 | 7 | Regatas Corrientes | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 10 | San Martín (C) | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | San Martín (C) | 1 | | | | 2 | Instituto | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 11 | Ciclista Olímpico | 0 | | | | |
| 3 | Gimnasia (CR) | 1 | | | | | | | 11 | Ciclista Olímpico | 0 | | | | |
| 14 | La Unión | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | La Unión | 3 | 11 | Ciclista Olímpico | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 14 | La Unión | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Obras Sanitarias | 2 | 14 | La Unión | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Ciclista Olímpico | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Finals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 |
| San Lorenzo | 4–3 | Instituto | 71–69 | 78–74 | 66–75 | 80–83 | 96–80 | 78–96 | 79–71 |

### Relegation playoffs

| Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 19 | Atenas | 3 |
| 20 | Quilmes | 0 |

## Clubs in international competitions

| Team | Competition | Progress |
| Atenas | FIBA Americas League | Second stage |
| San Martín (C) | FIBA Americas League | First stage |
| San Lorenzo | FIBA Americas League | Champions |
| Instituto | Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol | Runners-up |
| Libertad | Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol | Semifinals |
| Quimsa | Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol | Semifinals |

## Awards

The regular season awards were presented on 13 May.

### Yearly Awards

* Most Valuable Player: Marcos Mata, San Lorenzo
* Best Argentine Player: Marcos Mata, San Lorenzo
* Best Foreign Player: Dar Tucker, San Lorenzo
* Sixth Man of the Year: Luciano González, Instituto
* Rookie of the Year: Víctor Fernández, Quilmes
* Most Improved Player: Agustín Caffaro, Libertad
* Coach of the Year: Gonzalo García, San Lorenzo
* All-Tournament Team:
** C Eloy Vargas, Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)
** PF Jasiel Rivero, Boca Juniors
** SF Marcos Mata, San Lorenzo
** SG Dar Tucker, San Lorenzo
** PG Pedro Barral, Obras Sanitarias