Premier league starts February

Nigeria’s flagship basketball competition, the Premier League, is expected to jump-start in the first week of February 2006 across the country.

The Premier league, being sponsored by telecommunication outfit Vmobile Nigeria, was initially scheduled to run from last November but was put off indefinitely as a result of the international competitions the national teams and clubs participated in from August 2005.

Nigeria Basketball Federation officials met with their marketing company in Abuja last week, with the major topic sentered around the first jump-ball date.

The key to the tip off was determined by the need to start the premier league before the country's major tournaments at this year Commonwealth Games which involves the two national teams in Australia.

Thirteen teams will play in the Vmobile/NBBF premier league in the most lucrative season ever after the title sponsor splashed N35m on the league in 2005.