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. == Participations == Universidad Católica finished third in Chile, but they made their debut in the competition after the runners-up Colo Colo, declined to participate. Cordón de Montevideo, the Uruguayan Champions made their debut in the competition as the previous year they had declined the invitation. Leopardos de Bucaramanga were runners-up in Colombia, but took the place of Colombian champions, Caimanes del Llano who did not participate. Ciudad de Loja from Ecuador were a club formed especially to represent Ecuador in the competition. ESOFAP from Lima, were runners-up in Peru, but the club made their debut in the competition as Champions Regatas Lima, refused to participate. Report-Valtra Mogi das Cruzes finished third in Brazil but the club also made their debut in the competition, replacing the runners-up, Corinthians de Santa Cruz do Sul. Bolivian Champions Ingavi de La Paz had played in the two previous editions. == Teams == == Group stage == === Group A === === Group B === === Group C === === Group D === == Final stage == == Finals Series == The matches were played on 6 and 12 May 1998. Atenas - Cougar Franca 88–62 Cougar Franca - Atenas 75-78 == 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 Knight. Coach: Hélio Rubens == Season MVP == Fabricio Oberto == References ==