The expansion Shiga Lakestars will make their bj-league debut at home on Oct. 11 in their season opener against the three-time defending champion Osaka Evessa, the league announced on Monday.
In the other season-opening series, the Ryukyu Golden Kings will play host to the Rizing Fukuoka on the same day. The rest of the league tips off on Oct. 17, including the Tokyo Apache, who open their season on the road against the Niigata Albirex BB, and the Saitama Broncos, who take the trek to Toyama to face the Grouses. The Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix, who defected from the JBL after last season, face the Sendai 89ers in Tohoku on the same day to begin a two-game series.
In 2008-09, the league's 12 teams will play 52 regular-season games, an increase of eight from last season. The regular season concludes on April 26.