AUS - Basketball Australia to oversee ABA

SYDNEY (National Federation) - The Australian Basketball Association (ABA) is to be integrated into the operations of Basketball Australia (BA), it was decided over the weekend.

The concept was unanimously approved by the ABA Leagues at a special council meeting on Saturday, with a new ABA Commission established as a result.

Previously, the ABA and BA existed as separate organisations, where the ABA operated under a specific service agreement with Basketball Australia.


The ABA competition, which includes 5 leagues across 6 states and territories, will continue to be conducted in accordance with the ABA competition rules, with BA taking responsibility for the Finals Series.

The ABA Finals will now be played over two weekends in August, replacing the existing single-weekend series.

"The new Commission format will have no impact on the ABA brand, or on the day-to-day running of the competition," Basketball Australia Chief Executive Scott Derwin said.

"What the new Commission will do, however, is unify the governance of our sport."

"Without doubt, it is a positive move."

A similar vote occurred in May 2005, when the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) came under the BA operations umbrella.

The new ABA Commission that was established at Saturday’s meeting will include representatives of each league, together with the BA CEO.

Basketball Australia will appoint one of the five ABA Commission league members to the position of ABA Commission Chairman.

The meeting also conferred life membership on ABA President Adrian Davies for his outstanding contribution to the ABA over many years.