The Japan Basketball Association on Wednesday granted the Niigata Albirex and the Saitama Broncos special approval to break away from the amateur Japan Basketball League.

Both teams will compete in Japan's first professional "bj league" (Basketball Japan League), which will kick off in November.

The JBL last June asked the Albirex and Broncos to reconsider their joining the "bj league" but received a negative response, leaving no option but to have the two leagues operate separately in the 2005-2006 season.

"This decision will lead to the development of teams and the sport of basketball and from this point onward we will make every effort to popularize basketball," said Albirex head Toshimitsu Kawachi.

Players from both teams will not be registered with the Japan Basketball Association but JBA general secretary Takeshi Ishikawa said players from the bj league could still be considered for selection for the Japan national team.

The JBL said a corporate team from Fukuoka is set to fill the void left by the Albirex with the Chiba Badgers replacing the Broncos. The number of teams in the Super League and Japan League will remain unchanged at eight and six, respectively, next season.

The Japan Basketball Association last month announced that the men's top-tier basketball league will be recreated as a domestic pro league starting from the 2007-2008 season.

The JBA's plan is to create a pro league based on the existing teams in its top-tier Super League while giving corporate teams in the league time to switch to professional organizations, but the JBA has yet to receive nods from the sponsoring companies.

The JBA does not sanction the "bj league," which also features the Sendai 89ers, Tokyo Apache, Osaka Deinonychus and Oita HeatDevils.

Tabuse not keen

The Associated Press

Yuta Tabuse, the first Japanese-born player to appear in NBA, would turn down an invitation to play for Japan's national team if selected, an official with Japan's basketball federation said Thursday.

Tabuse, who was released by the Phoenix Suns in December, instead wants to focus on another attempt to play in the NBA.

The 1.75-meter Tabuse appeared in four games for the Suns, averaging 1.8 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists.

He made history on Nov. 1, when the Suns put him on their roster. Two days later, he became the first native of Japan to see get NBA court time, collecting all seven of his career points in 10 minutes of play against Atlanta.

Japan, which automatically qualifies for the FIBA World Championship 2006 as the host nation, will hold a training camp for national team candidates on April 20 in Tokyo.

Japan to play Aussies

Japan's men's basketball team will play Australia at the Kirin Cup in July, the Japan Basketball Association said Thursday.

The first of the three-match friendly series will take place at Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium on July 21, with the second to be played at Omura municipal gymnasium in Nagasaki Prefecture two days later and the final match at Yoyogi national gymnasium in Tokyo on July 24.

Meanwhile, the JBA said it will be inviting three countries to play in a friendly tournament in August, with the games to be played at venues for the FIBA World Championship 2006.