The formerly known Samoa National Basketball Association has undergone major changes following a rapid growth of national clubs registering for the 2016 league.
The SNBA is now the Samoa National Basketball Federation, and it will be the umbrella body to two associations.
The move to create a federation fits well with efforts of the Sports Association of Samoa and National Olympic Committee to establish high standard federations in Samoa which will all come under assistance from the Oceania Institute of Sports that was established in Samoa in November last year.
"The motherbody federation will be the umbrella in which all associations go under, so we’ve divided the former SNBA into two associations, namely the east and west, because of the growing number of clubs registering," said SNBF president Tala Pauga.
In 2013, nine teams were included in the entire SNBA spectrum at the time.
This year, about ten teams have registered with the western division association.
"We have a lot to look forward to this year, and to be able to manage all teams under our watch as the federation, we have to create two governing bodies to manage two associations," said Pauga.
"So the two associations which are only named as east and west for now will run their own leagues and tournaments to find their champions and we already have put in place plans to maybe bring the best from the west to head up against the best from the east," added Pauga.
The first games of the season are expected to be held in two weeks.
The western association is yet to confirm its programme.