12 May 2009

NBL might be put on backburner

6:16 am on 12 May 2009

Basketball Australia is considering shelving its planned new National Basketball League for 12 months after the Melbourne Tigers' withdrawal left the competition without a team in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.

The Tigers' decision to follow the other Melbourne club South Dragons and not take part in any remodelled competition this year has left plans for a credible national basketball league in tatters.

Six teams - Perth Wildcats, Gold Coast Blaze, New Zealand Breakers, Townsville Crocodiles, Cairns and Wollongong - are understood to have lodged applications for the new competition by yesterdays deadline, while the Adelaide 36ers' status remains unknown, with an ownership change still in the pipeline.

Basketball Australia will announce today whether the revamped league will go ahead.