Gilas Boys’ road to the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship begins in Pampanga.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced on Monday that Pampanga will host the 2025 Southeast Asia Basketball Association Under-16 Championship, with the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center serving as the main battleground for Southeast Asia’s top youth basketball squads.
Set to run from May 24 to 30, the regional tournament will also mark a significant milestone for the national basketball program, as LA Tenorio steps into a new role — making his coaching debut as the head tactician of the Gilas Pilipinas Boys.
The hosting was formalized following a courtesy visit by SBP executive director Erika Dy and SEABA event director Butch Antonio to Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, a long-time patron of sports in the province.
The SEABA U-16 tilt serves as a qualifier for the 2025 FIBA U-16 Asian Championship, with the top teams from the subzone earning tickets to the continental meet set to be played in Mongolia later this year.
The Philippines enters the tournament as the heavy favorite, having ruled the SEABA U-16 competition for the past five editions.
