# 1998 Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol

The 1998 Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol, or 1998 FIBA South American League, was the third edition of the second-tier tournament for professional basketball clubs from South America. The tournament began on 4 February 1998 and finished on 12 May 1998. Defending champions Atenas won their second title, defeating Brazilian club Cougar Franca in the Grand Finals.

## Format

Teams were split into four groups of four teams each, and played each other in a home-and-away round-robin format. The top two teams from each group advanced to the final stage, a best-of-three direct playoff elimination where the champion was decided.

## Teams

| Country | Team |
| Argentina | Atenas |
| Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| Argentina | Independiente de General Pico |
| Bolivia | Ingavi de La Paz |
| Brazil | Marathon Franca |
| Brazil | Mogi das Cruzes |
| Chile | Universidad Católica |
| Chile | Universidad de Concepción |
| Colombia | Leopardos de Bucamaranga |
| Ecuador | Ciudad de Loja |
| Paraguay | San José |
| Peru | Esofa de Lima |
| Uruguay | Aguada |
| Uruguay | Cordón |
| Venezuela | Cocodrilos de Caracas |
| Venezuela | Guaiqueríes de Margarita |

## Group stage
### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | Qualification | ATE | SAN | CON | AGU |
| 1 | Atenas | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | Advances to final stage | — | 112–71 | 123–86 | 92–78 |
| 2 | San José | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | Advances to final stage | 59–88 | — | 86–78 | 89–86 |
| 3 | Universidad de Concepción | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | | 71–94 | 85–81 | — | 96–90 |
| 4 | Aguada | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | | 81–89 | 86–98 | 99–72 | — |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | Qualification | FRA | LEO | GUA | LOJ |
| 1 | Cougar Franca | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | Advances to final stage | — | 116–86 | 139–114 | 147–56 |
| 2 | Leopardos de Bucamaranga | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | Advances to final stage | 73–87 | — | 110–86 | 93–78 |
| 3 | Guaiqueríes de Margarita | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | | 67–88 | 101–100 | — | 102–74 |
| 4 | Ciudad de Loja | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | | 71–103 | 71–90 | 100–94 | — |

### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | Qualification | BOC | COD | UCA | ING |
| 1 | Boca Juniors | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | Advances to final stage | — | 126–86 | 112–68 | 134–104 |
| 2 | Cordón | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 | Advances to final stage | 80–104 | — | 110–80 | 101–60 |
| 3 | Universidad Católica | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | | 101–143 | 84–87 | — | 100–96 |
| 4 | Ingavi de La Paz | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | | 89–114 | 81–100 | 71–104 | — |

### Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | Qualification | IND | MOG | COC | ESO |
| 1 | Independiente de General Pico | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | Advances to final stage | — | 109–106 | 130–66 | 123–62 |
| 2 | Mogi das Cruzes | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 | Advances to final stage | 88–96 | — | 98–77 | 143–85 |
| 3 | Cocodrilos de Caracas | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | | 96–103 | 69–74 | — | 97–61 |
| 4 | Esofa de Lima | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | | 61–96 | 73–99 | 87–127 | — |

## Final stage

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Grand Finals | Grand Finals |
| Cougar Franca | 2 | | |
| Mogi das Cruzes | 0 | | |
| Mogi das Cruzes | 0 | Cougar Franca | 2 |
| | | Independiente de General Pico | 1 |
| Independiente de General Pico | 2 | Independiente de General Pico | 1 |
| Leopardos de Medellin | 0 | | | | |
| Leopardos de Medellin | 0 | | | Cougar Franca | 0 |
| | | | | Atenas | 2 |
| Boca Juniors | 2 | | | Atenas | 2 |
| San José | 0 | | | | |
| San José | 0 | Boca Juniors | 1 | | |
| | | Atenas | 2 |
| Atenas | 2 | Atenas | 2 |
| Cordón | 0 | | |

## Finals rosters

Atenas Cordoba: Marcelo Milanesio, Steve Edwards, Darrell Anderson, Fabricio Oberto, Diego Osella - Héctor Campana, Leandro Palladino. Coach: Rubén Magnano
Cougar Franca: Helinho, Demétrius Conrado Ferraciú, Chuí, Rogério Klafke, Jose Vargas - Christopher Knights. Coach: Hélio Rubens
Season MVP: Fabricio Oberto