Basketball: NBL boosted to 11 teams

Next year's National Basketball League (NBL) will feature 11 teams with the return of the Otago Nuggets and introduction of Southland.

Joining them will be this year's teams Auckland Stars, Bay Hawks, Christchurch Cougars, Harbour Heat, Manawatu Jets, Nelson Giants, Taranaki Dynamos, Waikato Pistons and Wellington Saints.

Otago return after taking a year out from the competition in 2009.

Southland will make their NBL debut after failing to gain entry in a previous bid in 2002.

The 11 teams will be issued with licences covering the period from 2010 to 2012 by the NBL board, which has recently signed a new three-year agreement with the Board of Basketball New Zealand for the management of the competition.

The administration of the NBL will continue to be undertaken by Starpak Ltd of Wellington.

NBL chairman Sam Rossiter-Stead said the NBL board was delighted with the quality of the submissions from the 11 teams.

"A great deal of work has gone into putting together the licence applications from the teams, which has made the job of the NBL board that much easier.

"Many teams have secured new sponsors and other revenue streams for next year and beyond, as interest in the NBL continues to grow.

"We're very pleased to see the return of Otago to the NBL and also the addition of a new team from Southland, increasing the number of franchises on the South Island to four.

"We are all now looking forward to next year and a highly-competitive league with a genuine national representation."

- NZPA