1st February, 2013
By Bamidele Olowosagba
After a week-long Annual General Meeting, AGM, and pre-season seminar, which took place in Abuja, the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, has fixed 23 February to begin the 2012/ 2013 domestic league season.
According to a reliable source within the basketball ruling body in Abuja, the last weekend in February was agreed upon by all the stakeholders present during the pre-season seminar and the AGM.
“The league will certainly start in February as the NBBF and our sponsor, Multichoice, owners of DStv, have renewed the new contract as title sponsor for another four years.
“This season’s early dunk off is informed against the backdrop of many international engagements on our card, starting with the 27th edition of the men’s Afrobasket slated for Abidjan, Ivory Coast and the women’s edition holding in Maputo, Mozambique,” the source told P.M.NEWS.
The basketball league is fashioned after the National Basketball Association, NBA, of the United States of America on conference basis with all the 16 teams divided into eight teams each for the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences.
The Atlantic Conference has the defending champions, Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt, Dodan Warriors, Islanders, Comets, Police Baton and Customs and newly promoted Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan.
Savannah Conference has former champions, Kano Pillars, Nigeria Immigration of Kano, Kada Stars of Kaduna, Niger Potters of Minna, Plateau Peaks of Jos, Bauchi Nets,Yelwa Hawks of Bauchi and Mark Mentors of Abuja who acquired former Tapgun Rockets of Jos.