Why is the Philippines so obsessed about winning the gold medal in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games when the rest of Asia knows we are the United States of the region?

Despite the vast improvement of SEA Games rivals Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, it is a fact that we are the kings of Southeast Asia.

In fact, in the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, we won the gold medal.

Our basketball history is storied.

We placed third in the 1954 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro and was dominating pretty much Asian basketball until the Chinese entered the scene in the late 1970s.

That third-place finish remains the best by an Asian country. In 1994, China placed eighth. No other Asian country has won a medal in the worlds other than the Filipinos.

So, what’s the fuss about dominating the competitions in the SEA Games?

Have we become so desperate even for small wins that we are taking SEA Games basketball as if it is a major event?

Who cares about SEA Games basketball, anyway? The only guy who would rejoice about a SEA Games gold is probably somebody who is a noob. A bandwagoner.

A fellow writer said: Matalo na sa lahat ‘wag lang sa SEA Games basketball.

Why?

Do we have to prove to the rest of the region that we are the best?

They themselves know that. China, Korea, Japan and the other Asian heavyweights are aware of this fact.

Do we need validation?

Lately, there has been a major development about eligibility.

Several key Gilas players have been disqualified by the Thai organizers, leaving poor coach Norman Black and Gilas Pilipinas scrambling for worthy replacements.

The changes were made at the last minute and it is proof that SEA Games basketball is a big joke and it is not something to be taken seriously.

Next time, it would be better to just form a team made up of young and promising players for SEA Games action.

Even if they don’t win the gold, what’s important is for them to get that international experience that they won’t get if the Philippines dispatched a star-studded team.

Those who stand out will be looked after as Gilas candidates.

Let the Thais and even the Indonesians, Malaysians, Singaporeans and Vietnamese kill each other for the SEA gold.

Besides, it doesn’t mean a lot given the roster of participants.

I don’t get it.

What’s the satisfaction in crushing a lowly SEA Games foe?

Would you feel happy seeing a first-grader get beat up by a sixth-grader?

If that’s going to make you feel good, something’s awfully wrong.