Summarize

After the long wait, the Nigerian Basketball Federation has finally announced that the two available slots in the Atlantic Conference of the Premier Basketball League will be alloted to Police Baton and Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Rockets. The two team emerged the chosen ones out of the four teams that bade for the slots based on their performance at the interview conducted by the Technical Committee of the Federation.

In the statement released by the Federation, "Their admission is provisional and subject to their meeting certain conditions stipulated in the offer. The successful clubs are expected to bring their previous experience in the league to bear when the new season tips off"

The other two teams that bade for the slots are Raptors Basketball Academy and White Cap Chiefs Basketball Club.

Following the suspension of the three league clubs that participated in the African Basketball League early last year - Lagos Islanders, Dodan Warriors (now Lagos Warriors) and Union Bank Basketball Club (now Stallions Basketball) - only five teams played in the Atlantic Conference of the Premier Basketball League in the 2016 Season. This left three open slots in the Conference. In the usual tradition, the winner of the National Division One Championship - Hoops & Read Basketball Club - gained automatic qualification to the premier league.

Police Baton were relegated in 2015 when they finished at the bottom of the Atlantic Conference table. Both teams have tried repeatedly to gain promotion back to the Premier Basketball League by participating in the Division One Championship. 

We welcome the two teams back to the Premier Basketball League.