Now that the Philippines has regained basketball supremacy in the Asian Games, it's high time that officials and even hardcore fans become sensible and realistic with their goals.

You see, trouble started when Gilas Pilipinas "made waves" and "put up a gallant stand" against the world's finest during the 2014 World Championships in Seville, Spain.

Some dude in Gilas was so excited and overjoyed that the Filipinos almost upstaged the heavyweights of world hoops that he reported to the big boss that the Philippines can finally stand its ground even against the likes of Argentina, Croatia and Greece.

Given the chief's dearth of knowledge about world basketball, it was easy convincing him that, indeed, the Philippines had arrived.

Besides, who could forget Gabe Norwood's soaring rim-rattler over Luis Scola?

But you know what?

The Argentines, Croats, Greeks and even the Puerto Ricans were just unfamiliar with the Filipinos' brand of play that they all took their lowly-ranked and obscure opponents lightly.

Personally, that was the reason why Gilas came close to pulling off a shocker in Spain.

Then in the next worlds, Gilas traveled to China oozing with confidence.

Instead of going toe-to-toe with their fancied foes, Gilas got whacked and wound up dead-last as the opposition began looking at them as threats.

Again, the big boss probably thought the 2019 showing was just a fluke and expectations were so high when the worlds was played on local shores a couple of months ago.

But the aim to send shivers down their rivals' spine didn't happen.

Gilas got another shellacking and just took solace in their win over China in their farewell match.

So, what am I trying to say?