GILAS Pilipinas drew a light opponent in Myanmar to open its campaign in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) Championship this coming May.
The 7 p.m. match between the host and Myanmar, a country that's not exactly a basketball power in the region, serves as the main game of a triple header scheduled on May 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Indonesia tackles Singapore in the first game at 3 p.m. followed by the exciting encounter between Malaysia and Thailand in the week-long, seven-nation tournament that serves as qualifier to the Fiba Asia Cup this August in Beirut, Lebanon.
The real test begins for coach Chot Reyes and the nationals the following day when they take on Singapore, before plunging to action against the Malaysians on May 14.
Gilas then takes a break on the 15th after which it meets Thailand on the 16th in what many expects to be the fight for the championship.
Vietnam takes its turn against the host on the 17th,before Gilas concludes its campaign with a game against another contender in Indonesia on the 18th.
No championship match will be held as the team with the best record earns the lone outright berth to the FIBA Asia Cup.
The Philippines is the defending champion of the meet, now on its 12th edition.