While an Olympic victory holds high value when measured within the confines of national pride and foreign exposure, it is in the Southeast Asian Games that we gauge ourselves against our neighboring rivals and come up with a true assessment of our preparedness to produce sporting champions once in every four years. We can't and won't forget how Hidilyn Diaz shone in Tokyo and how Carlos Yulo ascended to greatness in Paris.

Diaz the weightlifter won gold in the 2019 SEA Games the country hosted in Manila, while Yulo the gymnast plucked two mints in 2023 Cambodia. A warmup routine, a thrust for confidence, or just a map charted toward grand places, both events served as springboards to bigger things in bigger stages.

With the Thailand Games nearing, and Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla bracing for the hosting of the 33rd edition of the biennial sportsfest for 11 member countries from Dec. 9 to 20, the exploits of Diaz and Yulo could be used to spark interest and be the guiding light to a common goal.

Now is the time for others to emulate what the two athletes have forged through hard work, discipline, and years of sacrifice.

The 34-year-old Diaz is making another tour of duty in the sub-regional tournament, while Yulo, the double-gold medalist in Paris, is skipping this edition after the local organizers placed stringent rules on participation, with one limiting a gymnast to a single event in the medal-rich sport.

Without the elder Yulo, the national team is pinning its hopes on Eldrew Yulo, the rising star from the famous gymnastics family, as well as Juancho Besana and John Ivan Cruz, both previous champions in the SEA Games.

In athletics, Pi Durden Wangkay and Naomi Cesar have earned slots after their achievements in the recent Asian Youth Games. There's also John Cabang Tolentino, the current national record-holder in 110-meter hurdles, and Robyn Brown, the Asian champion and reigning 400m hurdles queen.

While he is still uncertain to compete next month, pole vaulter EJ Obiena said he is banking on the talent of the young troops - Hokett delos Santos and Elijah Cole.

Expected to banner the swimming team are Kayla Sanchez, Xiandi Chua, and Chloe Isleta. Sanchez has an Olympic silver and bronze under her name when she represented the Canada country in Tokyo.

Of course, who would forget the Gilas Pilipinas team, which has dominated the sport with 19 golds, perhaps the most important team for this basketball-loving nation.

The men's 5-on-5 squad has a mix of professional players and collegiate standouts, led by naturalized player Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks, Mike Phillips, Kymani Ladi, among others.

Alas Pilipinas, in both the men's and women's side, is also preparing to steal the show in Thailand after a stretch of defining moments this year, most notably the male spikers' stint in the World Championships last September.

We could only dream of topping Southeast Asia once again after doing it in the 2019 edition. In 2023, we finished fifth with 58 gold, 85 silver, and 117 bronze medals.

If the pattern would truly be an indication of success from the SEA Games to the Olympics, Thailand could be the birthplace of a Los Angeles champion in 2028.

Or better yet, with proper training and overseas mileage factored in, why not an encore in the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia?

Needless to say, a victory in Southeast Asia gives a clear sight of hope to an Olympic triumph.