During a visit to Tokyo, Baumann repeated calls for the Japan Basketball Association (JBA) to merge its two rival men's leagues by June, after the organisation was suspended by FIBA on November 26.

He warned that it will be "very difficult" for Japan to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following the suspension, "but not impossible".

Baumann, who is also an International Olympic Committee member, appeared less than impressed with the JBA's handling of the bj-league/National Basketball League of Japan merger, which has been a constant thorn in the side of FIBA and the development of basketball in the country.

He made it clear that time was of the essence in Japan's fight to qualify for Rio 2016, a feat that seemed highly plausible for the women's Asian champions prior to the suspension.

"The basketball family has split," Bauman said.

The rift between the two leagues "is not helpful or beneficial for the development of basketball within Japan", he added.

"Basketball in Japan is a very popular sport amongst the young people.

"Imposing the sanction was therefore neither easy nor enjoyable.

"However, this is an opportunity for a reset after so many years of difficulties, an opportunity to regroup the whole basketball family around a new, common vision of growth and success.

"It is time for all clubs to regroup under one competition system, rather than continuing under the current damaging and unsustainable conflicting mode and for all schools to participate in a common effort of creating the next generation of talents for 2020 and beyond."

Patrick Baumann explained that the Task Force gave the JBA the opportunity to "regroup the whole basketball family around a new, common vision of growth and success"
©Getty Images


Baumann was joined by Germany's FIBA Executive Committee member Ingo Weiss in his three-day visit to Tokyo, where the pair met with a number of influential figures, including players, men and women's clubs, commercial partners, JBA board members and former Olympians, in Japanese basketball who could play pivotal roles in helping their nation recover from the recent setback.

Discussions were held over the creation of the Task Force that would be responsible for leading the necessary changes in Japanese basketball in support of and with the JBA.

This Task Force will be a lead anchor in the merging of the two basketball leagues which will bring all top clubs under one pyramidal structure under the JBA and set up a sustainable and growing club competition system played with the Official Basketball Rules across the country.

It will also play a key role in restructuring the JBA in order to ensure that the national governing body is fully and efficiently functional under FIBA's General Statutes.

The to-be-created Task Force will include one FIBA executive and up to 10 people, with a plan to finalise the group's members in mid-to-late January.

The first meeting of the Task Force is due to be held next month.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
November 2014: Japan handed suspension by International Basketball Federation
November 2014: Japan avoid suspension from international basketball despite missing league merger deadline as activity report reviewed
September 2014: Exclusive: Japan given October deadline to resolve basketball row or risk missing Tokyo 2020
December 2013: FIBA chief warns Japan they might miss out on automatic place at Tokyo 2020 unless problems resolved