Gilas Pilipinas veteran Japeth Aguilar against Guam in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Photo from FIBA Basketball.MANILA — Japeth Aguilar is set to end his 16-year Gilas Pilipinas career at a place he once called home.
The Barangay Ginebra star was honored ahead of their 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers clash against Guam on Monday at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City, a fitting end to his National team career.
The 6-foot-9, 38-year-old Kapampangan began his Philippine team stint with the original Smart Gilas Pilipinas in 2009 alongside the likes of his fellow Atenean Chris Tiu and San Miguel Beer sniper Marcio Lassiter under the mentorship of Rajko Toroman.
Since then, he has helped Gilas win its historic silver in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships, and this is on top of gold medals in the 2022 Asian Games, 2019 Southeast Asian Games, and in the 2011 and 2017 SEABA Championships among other accolades.
Aguilar is also the only player aside from his fellow Gilas veteran big man June Mar Fajardo to have competed in three editions of the FIBA World Cup (2014, 2019, 2023).