By Olalekan Okusan
THE much-anticipated DSTV Basketball Premier League will dunk off today at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium with Lagos Islanders confronting Union Bank Basketball Club in the opener.
Being the only match of the day in the Atlantic Conference, the Islanders, Union Bank clash will commence at 4:00 p.m. amid fun and fanfare courtesy of the new sponsor, Multichoice Nigeria Limited.
The Nigeria Police Bombers Basketball club is making a come back to the Atlantic conference, while Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt is another new entrant into the league from the Atlantic conference while Kada Stars basketball club of Kaduna rejoined the Savannah conference after several years in limbo. Other teams in the Atlantic conference includes former champions, Lagos Islanders and Ebun Comets basketball clubs; Nigeria Customs basketball club; Dodan Warriors basketball club; Union Bank basketball club and Delta Force basketball club of Asaba.
Savannah conference has the reigning champion, Kano Pillars basketball club, Niger Potters basketball of Minna, AHIP basketball club of Kano, Bauchi Nets basketball club, Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi, Plateau Peaks basketball club and Tapgun Rockets basketball club of Jos.
However, the scribe of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Francis Gbiri, assured that the league would commence as usual with teams at present in top gear for the championship.
However, Gbiri was not bothered by the slow-pace of work at the venue by simply saying, "If you come here five minutes past four, you will be late for the kick off of the league."
The scribe added that there might changes in the fixtures, following the Armed Forces Games kicking off this weekend in Abuja, as some of the teams would be in action at the games.
With the new sponsors, a new lease of life will be breathed into the game of basketball in Nigeria. It will be recalled that the league enjoyed backing from the likes of telecommunication giant, V-Mobile in the past, but the support was halted in 2007 when the competition was abridged and nearly did not hold in 2008.
"I want to say that with the level of sponsorship from Satellite TV giant, DSTV, there would be an improved premier league. Unlike in the past when we lacked good sponsorship, I believe that basketball has taken a turn for the better," he said.
The four-year deal, which runs from this year to 2012 - with the first season attracting N25 million and N36 million for each of the next three years, while the final eight involving four teams from both conferences will take place after the regular season.