The Japan Basketball Association still awaits a ruling from FIBA after an Oct. 31 deadline set by basketball's world governing body for a merger plan between the 22-team bj-league and 13-team NBL was not reached.

FIBA has delayed issuing a ruling. Then on Thursday, the JBA received a letter from FIBA that stated its executive committee has scheduled meetings for Nov. 24-25 to discuss the matter, the JBA announced on Friday.

FIBA general secretary Patrick Baumann has said that a failure to meet FIBA demands will result in the JBA being suspended and barred from sanctioned competitions.

At the top of FIBA's list of mandates, Baumann spelled out why a merger between Japan's two top leagues is a must.

"There are currently two existing and concurring leagues in Japan. One of them being under the control of the JBA and another one functioning away from under the JBA's umbrella," Baumann said in September. "This situation is in violation of FIBA's General Statutes as the JBA no longer maintains full control and governance of basketball in Japan."

He added: FIBA has notified the JBA that, should it not proceed to resolving them by October this year, FIBA would be forced to suspend the JBA from FIBA until concrete solutions are found for the good development of basketball in Japan."

Compounding the JBA problem, its president, Yasuhiko Fukatsu, resigned eight days before the deadline after talks failed to produce a breakthrough or an agreement between the rival leagues.