FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 1, 2015
Contact:   Craig Fata, Vice President
(844) THE-MPBA / craig.fata@theMPBA.com

ST. LOUIS – When the ball goes up for the first tip-off in the history of the Midwest Professional Basketball Association, that ball will be a Rawlings “Contour,” under the terms of a deal announced today by the league.

                    The new Contour is the top-of-the-line ball made by Rawlings, and is the official ball of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

                   “We are very pleased to be using the Rawlings Contour as our official league ball for the 2015 season," said Ed Schumer, Commissioner and CEO of the MPBA  “There are a number of great basketballs in the market and our decision was not an easy one.  This is a high-end indoor ball that suits the professional game perfectly. It was the right decision for us to make for this first year and we hope to further develop our relationship with Rawlings in the future,” he said.

                    The inaugural MPBA season opens Fri., Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. at Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri, as the St. Louis RiverSharks and Gateway Steam play the first-ever game in the new league.

-###-

The mission of the MPBA is to attract the top minor league basketball players, coaches, owners and staff members from across the United States, and to provide that talent with the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional environment; the MPBA will also provide its fans and supporters with a fun, value-based entertainment experience, as well as incorporate community outreach programs into its members’ operations.