He was part of the many achievements of the national basketball team.
Before the start of their second duel against Guam in the FIBA World Cup Asia Qualifiers, which happened at the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Japeth Aguilar was given a special recognition.
This, as the veteran player ends his tenure with the Gilas Pilipinas that same night, which he was a part of for the past 16 years.
Japeth shared that it was a “fitting” exit for him, as his retirement happened at the very same place where he was honed back in college—as he was previously a member of the Ateneo varsity team at the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
The 38-year-old local basketball legend also revealed that he had seen himself retiring after their gold medal finish at the Asian Games.
Despite moving on from his role in Gilas, Aguilar noted that he will continue to ba a part of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), telling, “Hindi pa naman [ako mag-reretire sa PBA]. Meron pa akong few left in my contract.“
“Very thankful ako sa mga moments na nakasama ko yung mga future Gilas,” said Aguilar on the younger members of the team. “Sa mga young guys, thankful ako sa moment na nagkasama kami on and off the court.”
He also expressed confidence in the other members of the team and told: “Very confident ako sa kanila. Malayo yung mararating nila. Basta ano lang, kailangan suportahan natin sila.“
Meanwhile, tributes were also given to him by his Gilas teammates, including LA Tenorio, who shared on his social media a photo of him and Japeth.
Part of his message read, “Saludo sa iyong kabayanihan, [Japeth]. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng sakripisyong ibingay mo para sa bayan.”
After entering Gilas Pilipinas in 2009, Japeth became part of the historic line-up thatbaaw the team clinch a silver at the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup in Manila that led to the country joining the FIBA World Cup in 2014.
He would still be part of the team when they competed in the World Cup anew in 2023.