Molten has renewed its sponsorship of the British Basketball League (BBL) for a second three-year term.
The new deal, which commences this month, means Molten’s distinctive 12-panel G-Series basketball will remain as the exclusive and official BBL league and club ball. The balls will be used in all BBL games, cup games and championship finals, as well as all junior development programmes, community projects undertaken by BBL clubs and any other events the BBL is involved in.
Funding is also part of the package. Cash from Molten is to be directly invested by BBL in a scheme to develop basketball in the clubs’ communities.
A further element of the sponsorship agreement means that all Molten products, including digital scoreboards, will continue to be available exclusively online via the BBL website at www.bbl.org.uk.
Bob Hope, chairman of Molten Sports and one of the original founders of the league, says: “We are very pleased to be in a position to continue our sponsorship of the British Basketball League for a second three-year term, despite the current economic climate. We feel it is vital that the top UK professional teams play with the latest basketball equipment in the build-up to London 2012, and we have been able to continue our sponsorship following strong basketball sales over the year, which have increased by over 35 per cent.
In addition, we have developed an excellent working relationship with the BBL over the past three years and are looking forward to developing it even further over the coming years and assisting them, not only with a supply of balls, but also in helping to improve club development and competition.”
“Sponsorship of the league fits in well with our programme of basketball sponsorship, which currently includes all FIBA international events and all the GB teams, the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association, Basketball Ireland, Basketball Wales, England Schools Basketball and Mini-Basketball England.”
Paul Blake, chairman of the British Basketball League, adds: “Our clubs use the Molten range of basketballs across all elements of their business, from community work right the way through to the top-level BBL competitions. We feel the Molten basketballs are, by some distance, the best in the business and hence we are delighted to be extending this deal for a further three-year period.”
