Seaba U16 fever hits Pampanga
With the stage set, San Fernando, Pampanga, is ready to welcome Southeast Asia’s top youth basketball talents for the 2025 Seaba (Southeast Asian Basketball Association) U16 Championship.
The event will run from May 24 to May 30.
The weeklong tournament at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center serves as the qualifier for the Fiba U16 Asia Cup in Mongolia later this year. Six nations will vie for the lone ticket to the continental stage: the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
Event director Butch Antonio said the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), in partnership with the local government of Pampanga, is working to deliver a memorable tournament both on and off the court.
“We’ve hosted many events before, but age-group tournaments like this are always special,” Antonio said at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday. “We want this to be a unique experience for everyone involved.”
Gilas Pilipinas Youth will open its campaign against Vietnam in the 7 p.m. main game of opening night. The team is mentored by Barangay Ginebra stalwart LA Tenorio, who will lead a squad still being finalized from a 16-man pool.
Antonio noted that while the Philippines enters as the highest-ranked team, regional rivals Indonesia and Thailand are expected to be strong contenders.
“You never really know with youth teams,” he said. “Most of these players are new, so we’ll only truly see their caliber once the games begin.”
SBP officials, including president Al Panlilio, executive director Erika Dy and Philippine Sports Commission Chair Richard Bachmann are expected to attend, along with Pampanga Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda.
