Cagayan de Oro to host SEABA U-16 tournament

Cagayan de Oro City will be hosting the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) Under-16 Tournament, the qualifier for the FIBA Asia U-16, on April 14 to 19.

National team Batang Gilas, who won the past two championships since the bi-annual event was introduced in 2011, will defend their title against teams from Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The games are set to be played in Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, which produced PBA great Jojo Lastimosa and San Miguel Beer forward Nelbert Omolon.

In a press release, the Department of Tourism expressed their support for the event, especially assuring the safety of the delegates following the Mamapasano clash that occurred last January.

Domingo Ramon Enerio III, the Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board, also joined the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) officials in the FIBA World Cup hosting workshop held in Switzerland last December.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno, who also serves as the chairman of the SBP, assured that the capital city of Misamis Oriental is ready to host the event. - RAF, GMA News