Japeth Aguilar retires from Gilas Pilipinas confident team is in good hands

MANILA, Philippines – Japeth Aguilar had put off his Gilas Pilipinas retirement far too many times, but he is finally ready to walk away knowing that the national team is in good hands.

Aguilar donned the national colors for possibly the final time as the Philippines swept the opening window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers with a 95-71 romp of Guam at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym on Monday, December 1.

The game marked the end of a 16-year run with the national team for the 38-year-old forward, who passes the torch to a bevy of young and talented big men in Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Carl Tamayo.

“I’m very thankful for the moments that I spent with the future of Gilas. To the young guys, I’m very thankful for the moments that we were together on and off the court,” said Aguilar in a mix of Filipino and English.

“I’m very confident in them. They’ll go a long way. We just need to support them and trust the system, trust the process. I hope they stay healthy and the core stays intact because we have yet to see their full potential.”

A member of the original Gilas squad put together in 2009, Aguilar represented the country in countless tournaments, including three World Cup editions (2014, 2019, and 2023).

He was also part of the crew that won a historic gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games in China, a tournament that was supposed to be his “last dance” before head coach Tim Cone and team came calling again.

Owing to his experience and familiarity with international play, Aguilar even suited up for the Philippines in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia and the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia.

Aguilar said retiring from national team duties in the same campus where his career took off was “very fitting.”

He played two UAAP seasons for Ateneo before he took his act to the Western Kentucky University in the US NCAA, a stint that paved the way for him to become the first Filipino player to be drafted in the NBA G League.

“This one is sweeter because it is very nostalgic for me,” said Aguilar on his Ateneo sendoff.

“I’d been with the national team for a very long time. I’m leaving and I see that the players are very promising. I believe what coach Tim is saying that if this group stays together, they can go far.”

Honored in a short program before the game, Aguilar received a framed Gilas jersey as his teammates and fans cheered him on.

Aguilar ended his swan song with 3 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal as a starter. – Rappler.com