Japeth Aguilar had long felt the calling of retirement from national team responsibilities, but duty kept pulling him back.
Every time he attempted to hang up his Gilas Pilipinas jersey — an outfit he wore for over 16 years of service — another setback to the Philippines’ frontline arose. AJ Edu’s early injuries, Kai Sotto’s ongoing rehabilitation of a full ACL tear, and even longtime running mate June Mar Fajardo’s own battle with injuries.
At that time, the 38-year-old veteran became the steady presence that calmed the Philippines through adversity — but this time, the timing and the stars all aligned.
With Sotto set to return in the second window of the qualifiers come February, along with the long-awaited debut of Quentin Millora-Brown on the international stage, Aguilar saw the opportunity he had long been waiting for: a steady Philippine frontline.
Confident that the trio can anchor the Philippines in the years to come, the 6-foot-9 center officially called it a career.
After over 16 years of service, soaring blocks, and rim-rattling slams, Aguilar steps away from national team duty in stride. He knows that the next generation of giants is finally prepared to take over the paint he once protected.
“It’s about… For me, feeling ko, very fitting kasi parang nabubuo na yung core nila. So I feel like, ako feeling ko lang, si June Mar, may konting ano pa, pwede pa siya mag-stay para ma-lead niya yung young guys,” Aguilar told reporters after the Philippines’ 95-71 win over Guam in Window 1 of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Monday evening, at the storied Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
“Pero sobrang happy ako sa naging process, sobrang haba na ng time ko with the national team. Iiwan ko, nakikita ko na ganiyan yung mga players, sobrang promising. Naniniwala rin ako sa sinabi ni Coach Tim na pwedeng if magsasama-sama itong group na ito, malayo ang mararating,” he added.
What Aguilar will leave behind is not only an anchor that steadied Gilas’ ship over the past 16 years, but also a winning tradition built on four championships, one silver-medal run, and two-third place finishes over 20 FIBA-sanctioned tournaments, two Asian Games runs, and one SEA Games appearance.
While it will truly take a team effort to fill the void that the former Ateneo center will leave for the Tim Cone-mentored squad, Aguilar is confident that the current Gilas pool — believing the roster has yet to tap into its full potential — will surpass all of the glory he brought home to the Philippines.
“Very confident ako sa kanila, kaya nila. Malayo mararating nila, sobra. Kailangan suportahan lang natin sila, sobra. Patuloy lang ang pag-trust sa system, sa process,” he concluded.
“Sana maging ano sila, healthy and maging buo ng core kasi… Actually, di pa natin nakikita yung full potential nila. Abangan natin sila and suportahan natin sila.”
#WATCH: Retiring after 16 years of service to Gilas Pilipinas, Japeth Aguilar confident that Quentin Millora-Brown, AJ Edu, and Kai Sotto will anchor the Philippines in years to come#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/Mr3AZcROXW
📹 Ernest Tuazon/Tiebreaker Times#LabanPilipinas #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/EQQ6N5ihIz
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) December 1, 2025
