Before Gilas Pilipinas toppled Guam at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym on Monday, longtime national team member Japeth Aguilar was given a farewell tribute for what was supposed to be his final game for Gilas after 16 years of service.
After the game, though, Gilas head coach maintained that the 38-year-old isn’t necessarily done yet with his national team duties. According to Cone, when the need arises, he will continue calling on Aguilar to rep the red, white, and blue. And, in case Coach Tim does come calling, it’s more likely than not that Aguilar will heed it again… and again… and again.
And that’s unfair to Japeth Aguilar.
Japeth Aguilar Has Earned His Gilas Retirement—and the Right to Stay Retired
Put simply, Japeth Aguilar has earned his retirement. For nearly two decades, since first donning the Gilas colors in 2009, Japeth has been a constant for the national team, giving the programme length, athleticism, rim protection, and professionalism that never wavered. The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel big man has stayed loyal and true to that program. He has said yes to pretty much every call-up, every call of duty. He has played through pain and injury and through endless bad-mouthing and criticism. He has suited up whenever he could, missing just one tournament only because he had to take a much-deserved honeymoon with his wife.
That tribute Japeth Aguilar got prior to the Guam game? It was both emotional and well-deserved. It was a tribute fitting for a player who gave everything, from the early iterations of Gilas to the modern era of Philippine basketball. That applause wasn’t just for a game—it was for a career.
And that’s exactly why it’s time to let him walk away, head held high.
Japeth Aguilar has reached the point every athlete ultimately faces: the natural end of a national team journey. Extending that chapter risks diminishing the finality and dignity of the send-off he just received. He has already given Gilas more than most players ever could. And to his credit, he has done it without complaint, without controversy, and without ever failing to show up when the flag called.
Time to Give Other Bigs the Baton
Besides, the Gilas program is now at the point where it should be developing, trusting, and investing in the next generation of Filipino bigs—AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Kai Sotto, most notably. Even Geo Chiu should merit a closer look or any young big that comes along. These are younger, high upside bigs who need real minutes, real roles, and the confidence that the future is theirs to shape. Gilas can’t move forward if it continues relying on the comfort of its past pillars like Aguilar.
In so many ways, Aguilar has already done his part in building the bridge connecting the past, the present, and the future. Now, it’s time to let others cross it.
Of course, Aguilar’s quiet leadership, experience, and presence will always be valued—but those contributions can be just as powerful from the sidelines, mentoring younger bigs, sharing wisdom from 16 years in international play, and being the steady voice that helps guide a new core.
Coach Tim should know better than anyone that national team continuity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when legends are honored properly and the next generation is empowered fully. Japeth Aguilar’s Gilas Pilipinas chapter has closed. It’s time to keep it closed. Let him enjoy the retirement he earned a dozen times over.
And then let the next wave of Gilas bigs prove they’re read—because they are.
