ABC Pro Basketball League Partners with MSBA, Aims to Elevate Hoops Across Maharashtra
Maharashtra State Basketball Association joins hands with ABC Fitness to launch a statewide developmental league.
Basketball in Maharashtra is set for a major leap forward as the ABC Pro Basketball League, in its fifth season, has partnered with the Maharashtra State Basketball Association (MSBA).
For the first time, the league will officially serve as the premier competition under the state association’s banner, bringing together athletes from across Maharashtra in age categories ranging from Under-14 to Under-23.
Grassroots Development at the Core
“When the new body of the MSBA got elected on 4th of July, we had announced right in the AGM that we are looking at grassroots development of basketball,” said Govind Krishnan Muthukumar, Hon. Gen. Secretary, MSBA. “I think for grassroots development, we need high-level performance tournaments.”
Sandeep Joshi, President, MSBA, said:
"This league marks the beginning of a new chapter for basketball in Maharashtra. It's not just about competition, it's about creating opportunities, inspiring the next generation, and building a legacy for the sport in our state."
A Statewide Basketball Vision
Unlike earlier editions of the ABC Pro Basketball League, the 2025 season will be structured as a truly statewide program, with plans already underway to ensure opportunities extend beyond its Pune base.
“We see ABC being as a perfect partner to start these leagues. In Pune, they are already doing it for three seasons,” Muthukumar explained. “What they lack, we can provide in terms of technical ability, in terms of talent from across Maharashtra. We can together build a good brand.”
Anirudh Pole, Founder & Director of ABC Fitness, underlined the wider ambition, “This is the official basketball league of Maharashtra, designed for athletes all across the state. While Pune will be the starting point, participation is open to players from every corner of Maharashtra.”
Partnership Structure in Place
The tie-up with MSBA also cements the league’s credibility and long-term future.
“The official partnership with ABC Fitness is yet to be signed. Yes, we have given an in-principle go ahead for the partnership,” Muthukumar said. “We have signed a basic LOI kind of a thing and we have issued them a letter. The commercial terms are being discussed and we will enter into the definitive agreement shortly.”
Despite an official partnership yet to be signed, Pole claimed that this collaboration would have no fixed time frame and will continue year after year, providing long-term stability for basketball in Maharashtra.
Direct Pathway to Team Maharashtra
Talent scouting will also be central to the league’s mission. The competition will not only provide game exposure but also act as a feeder into higher-level pathways.
“Players will be scouted for the Maharashtra state teams as well as for various talent development academies across India,” Pole said. “The league is not just about competition, it’s about creating pathways for players to move up into higher levels of the sport.”
Emphasizing MSBA’s role in the league, Muthukumar said:
“As the Maharashtra State Basketball Association, we are basically here to promote the game and by means of promotion, what we are already doing, we are arranging state-level Championships at various age groups. These teams are selected for the nationals, and we also conduct camps and other things.
“What we look at, you know, achieving through this league is to create a platform to elevate players from the basic level to a professional level.”
Development First, Business Second
Muthukumar also made it clear that the league’s focus will remain developmental rather than purely commercial.
He said, “We are not looking at only the monetary aspects when we look at building this league. The remuneration is not the only objective here. Our objective is still to have a developmental league. This is more an opportunity, and yes, we will remunerate, we will have cash prizes, we will do various things to ensure that this league becomes profitable. But this is going to be more of an age group league and not a professional league.”
This December, when the tip-off happens in Pune, it won’t just mark the start of another season of the ABC League; it could very well mark the beginning of new-age basketball across Maharashtra.
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