AND so it came to pass this week that Westminster Warriors earned promotion to National Division Two next season without winning the league.
The statutory requirement is a championship - but in this case Warriors' founder just happens to be the regional director for London Basketball.
Steve Alexander protested long and loud that he didn't need to drop words in the right ears at England Basketball, whose committee decides the league make-up, claiming the Moberly Centre-based side's application for a leg-up spoke for itself.
Warriors slipped up towards the end of the season against neighbours Westside, from Kensington, and let in arch-rivals Brixton Topcats.
But in the coveted play-off final at Derby at the end of last month, Westminster reversed the result when they beat the south Londoners to win the National Three South play-off title.
Alexander said: "Considering I also help Topcats with their coaching as well, having a foot in both camps is part of my job.
"But London's presence in the higher leagues can only be good for the sport - and there was little to choose between the two clubs, as shown by the play-off result."
But Division Two is as far as it goes if Warriors are sitting on top this time next year. The Moberly set-up has huge supporting pillars as close to the edge of the court that makes no difference.
And because the pillars are considered spectator obstacles as well, Alexander reckons a successful Westminster will need to quit the place they've called home for most of the last 21 years.
He said: "It would cost £100,000 for anything to be done about the pillars - and that's not going to happen. So I have ideas about where Warriors can go - although it's too early to say where."
EBL Division Two 2009/10: Birmingham As, Brixton Topcats, Colchester Hornets, Durham Wildcats, Glyndwr Nets, Mansfield Giants, Medway Crusaders, Plymouth Marjon Cannons II, Team Northumbria, University of Birmingham, Watford Storm, WESTMINSTER WARRIORS.
