Abuja, the nation’s capital and Akure, Ondo State capital, have been selected to host the 2023 edition of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) conference finals in November.
The decision was announced on Tuesday by Babatunde Ogunade, Chairman of the Premier Basketball League Management Committee (PBLMC), after a meeting of the body in Lagos.
He said Abuja would play host to the Savannah Conference final, while Akure would host the Atlantic Conference final, adding that both events would run concurrently from Nov. 4 to Nov. 12.
The top two teams at the end of each final, he said, would advance to the Final four to be staged also in November in Lagos.
Ogunade said the Nigeria Customs, Nile University, Kano Pillars, Bauchi Nets, Plateau Peaks, Gboko City Chiefs, Gombe Bulls, and the Correctional Centre would fight for the two tickets from the Savannah conference.
Rivers Hoopers, Lagos Legends, Police Batons, Delta Force, Hoops and Reads, Comets, Oluyole Warriors, and the defending champions Kwara Falcons, would slug it out for the two available slots from the Atlantic conference finals.
He added that registration formalities for all the 16 clubs and players in the Premier League was expected to be completed on or before the conference finals dunked off on Nov. 5.
The winner of the 2023 NBBF Premier Basketball League will represent Nigeria at the 2023 Basketball African League (BAL), while the final of BAL will take place at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.