Lagos — With just a short time to the start of the Nigerian Premier Basketball League (NBL), it is certain that the new sponsors of the league are in favour of the new season playing with the Road Trip format as against the format without the trips.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) submitted a two-type league fixtures for the marketer/sponsors to consider as part of efforts aimed at re-engineering the flagship championship of the federation,

An associate of the sponsors appointed to oversee the package by all sides told THISDAYSports that the fixtures with the road trips are more attractive for the financiers.

"The Road Trip design is certainly the real thing. That pattern is so unique to the game. The style separates the Nigerian basketball league from that of football and all other sports. That is certainly what the league will work it. Aside from the obvious bigger excitement, the sponsors prefer that for obvious mileage reasons," he said.

The Road Trip pattern means that teams from each conference will travel across to the other sector and play the other teams in that area. The league as constituted now has six teams in the Atlantic Conference and seven in the Savannah area.

The Atlantic teams are defending champions, Comets, Lagos Islanders, Dordan Warriors, Customs and Delta Force, who have replaced the Police Bombers. From the other conference are Niger Potters, Kano Pillars, Bauchi Nets, Plateau Peaks, Yelwa Hawks, Tapgun Rockets and AHIP.