MANILA, Philippines – The Gilas Pilipinas national team will enjoy home court advantage in the 2017 SEABA Championship after the Philippines was awarded hosting rights to the regional tournament.

National team head coach Chot Reyes confirmed the news through his Twitter account on Monday.

"We just received confirmation that SEABA has awarded the Men's senior and under-16 hosting to Manila," Reyes announced.

We just rcvd confirmation that SEABA has awarded the Men's senior & U16 hosting to Manila, Apr 23-30. #LabanPilipinasPuso!

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) January 23, 2017

The tournament will run from April 23 to 30, and will serve as the qualifying tournament to the FIBA Asia Championship later in the year.

It will be the first tournament for the fifth iteration of the Gilas Pilipinas national team. Reyes announced on Sunday the 12 professional players who will join the Gilas Cadets in the pool, from which the squad for the SEABA tilt will be selected.

"Kailangan natin ipanalo ang SEABA to enable us to play in the FIBA Asia. Kailangan mag-champion doon," Reyes said Sunday. "So we need to bring our strongest team sa SEABA."

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