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Triple-header to start SEABA tournament

The official logo of the 2017 SEABA Championships
By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG—A three-fight card will kick off the 2017 SEABA men's championship at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The said tournament was officially launched during a contract signing at Bar One Restaurant inside Holiday Inn Manila Galleria on Tuesday.

Officials from SBP and SEABA were present in the signing ceremony that formally makes the Philippines the host of the SEABA Championship.

As announced in the said event, the game between Indonesia and Singapore will open the tournament on May 12 at 3 p.m.

A showdown between Malaysia and Thailand will follow at 5 p.m., while Gilas will debut against Myanmar in the main game at 7 p.m.

The seventh team in the tournament, Vietnam, will begin its own quest the following day as it takes on Thailand at 3 p.m. followed by the Indonesia-Malaysia and the Gilas-Singapore games.

Gilas will take the day off on May 15 and will return to action on May 16 against Thailand in what could be the virtual title decider.

Meanwhile, the U16 division games will commence on May 14 also at "The Big Dome" with a doubleheader featuring Malaysia versus Indonesia at 10 a.m. and Batang Gilas versus Singapore at 12 p.m.

Thailand, the other team in the five-team pool, will debut the day after against Malaysia at 10 a.m., right before Batang Gilas takes on Indonesia at 12 p.m.

Batang Gilas will be out on May 16 and will play again on May 17 against Thailand.

The weeklong event will culminate with a special nightcap as both Philippine squads will finish the day on May 18.

Batang Gilas battles Malaysia at 5 p.m., while the senior Gilas takes on Indonesia at 7 p.m.

Both SEABA tourneys will be single round robin formats.

There will be no playoffs to decide the champions of the tourneys, that is, whoever has the best record after the tournament proper will be declared victor in its division.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno