FOR the nth time, Japeth Aguilar is set to retire from Gilas Pilipinas.
And the two games against Guam in the opening window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers will serve as his national team swansong.
Both the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas through executive director Erika Dy and national coach Tim Cone lauded the veteran big man for answering the Gilas call time and again despite attempts to finally retire from international play.
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Dy added the national team’s hosting of Guam on Dec. 1 at the Blue Eagle gym should be a fitting sendoff for the 38-year-old Aguilar, who has been a part of the original Smart Gilas Pilipinas program under former coach Rajko Toroman.
“It’s a very special game especially for Japeth Aguilar as we might see him for the last time in a Gilas jersey. So it’s sort of a tribute also for Japeth,” said the SBP executive.
“It’s great that we’ll be having it at the Blue Eagle gym where he spent two years of his collegiate basketball career. It’s just fitting that we send him off there.”
Aguilar initially played college basketball for Ateneo before landing a roster spot at Western Kentucky University, an NCAA Division 1 school.
But while the SBP turns nostalgic, Cone seemed a bit reserved about the matter.
While saying Aguilar will be part of the Gilas 12 for both games against Guam, the Gilas coach said the 6-foot-9 power forward will remain on call whenever the need arises.
“At this point we kind of allow him,” said Cone. “He’s gone above and beyond the duty or call of duty. He’ll always be on call, but at this point we’ll see what happens on Monday.”
Aguilar has long expressed his desire to finally give way to other young, upcoming big men to take his slot at the national team, the latest of which was during the recent FIBA Asia Cup.
And he hinted about finally skipping the opening window of this coming World Cup qualifiers if not for two pressing matters.
“Nagkataon lang AJ (Edu) got married and Kai (Sotto) you know is still recovering (from ACL injury). So nagkataon lang,” Aguilar said.
But with Gilas now tapping Quentin Millora-Brown and the 7-foot-3 Sotto set for a possible return by early next year, the road looked clear for Aguilar to finally bid goodbye to the Gilas program.
And for all the years that he served flag and country, Cone has nothing but respect for his Ginebra player.
“He’s been asking to be retired, so he’ll always be on call and if we need him, you know he’s going to jump into it. He’s been doing that for the last three years. He keeps saying I don’t want to do it, and we keep asking him to come back and do it,” said Cone. “So the appreciation we have for him is just amazing in this program.
”Of course, we see it every day at Ginebra the kind of character he has. The character he lends to Gilas is beyond what we expect from anybody.”
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