There is a commitment to provide meaningful basketball at the grassroots level in Otago next year but clouds hang over representative teams.
A sponsor has also criticised Basketball Otago, saying disappointment was not a strong enough word to describe the actions of the organisation.
As BBO faces up to going out of business, it not only means no more Otago Nuggets - there will also be no organisation to run club competitions from primary school miniball to A grade basketball.
Sport Otago chief executive John Brimble said the focus was to make sure local basketball was still around.
''That is the main priority for us and we want to assist so grassroots basketball will still be offered in Dunedin and the greater Otago area,'' he said.
''I'm pretty sure that we will find a way to make sure that something happens and the likes of kids playing will be catered for.''
Brimble said talks had already begun with basketball administrators about a competition next year.
He said it was very disappointing BBO had signalled its wish to liquidate. It was similar to when the Otago Rugby Football Union came close to liquidation a couple of years ago.
''It is a sign of the times, really. Things are pretty tough out there. It reflects what is happening out there in society. Everyone is tightening their belts and that affects various funding sources. Everyone is struggling.''
Edgar Centre manager Blair Crawford, who revealed earlier this week BBO owed the centre about $45,000, was not surprised about the liquidation.
Crawford said the Edgar Centre could help in getting a strong competition up and running, although it was early days. It could do the draws and results for the competition.
''It would be surprising if it didn't happen. But it would be quite crippling for us if it did not go ahead,'' Crawford said.
Crawford said issues such as representative teams and referees would have to be looked at by whatever replaced Basketball Otago.
Former Otago Goldrush coach Brent Matehaere said what had happened to BBO was sad.
''Basketball will still happen, but it is disappointing it has got to this point,'' Matehaere said.
''People are bandying around all kinds of ideas but my view is it is just sad. We have to go through it all again, when we just did it with the Nuggets in 2010.''
Sponsors are out of pocket, owed money they are unlikely to see.
Commodore Motels/Apartments owner Rick Meder said his business had been ''left out to dry'' by BBO.
''We have stood by BBO for the last three years and refrained from making comment over the last four or five months, with the hope things would work themselves out,'' Meder said.
''We now find ourselves in a position where we have fulfilled all our sponsorship requirements with BBO and have been left out to dry from their side with unpaid accounts.
''Disappointment is not a strong enough word to say how we are feeling with the way BBO has handled the last four or five months.
''The kids of Dunedin and Otago will be the big losers in this situation, with no structured environment for them to be involved in basketball. The fact that BBO still has unpaid [creditors], and some of which are sponsors, has contributed to our situation and the loss to the community of BBO.''
He declined to say how much money Commodore Motels/Apartments was owed.
Hanson Rental Vehicles managing director Jarrod Hanson earlier told the Otago Daily Times he was owed more than $3500 by BBO.
He declined comment yesterday but said the money had not been paid back.
