The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas honored Japeth Aguilar in a brief ceremony before Gilas Pilipinas’ game against Guam in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.
As far as coach Tim Cone is concerned, Japeth Aguilar isn’t truly retired yet from Gilas Pilipinas.
Speaking to reporters after Gilas’ 95-71 home win over Guam in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, Cone said Aguilar will be one call away.
“He’s still on call,” said Cone.
“Something happens with one of our bigs and we need another big to step in, we will continue to call him because he’s a freak of nature. 38 years old, still jumps out of the gym, still plays at an extremely high level.”
Cone likened Aguilar’s Gilas set-up to that of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
“He’s gonna be like Muhammad Ali: comeback, retire, comeback, comeback, retire, who knows?” said Cone, who also coaches Aguilar in the PBA with Ginebra.
The veteran mentor added: “He knows that if we need him, he’ll come back and help us out.”
But for now, with Quentin Millora-Brown making his national team debut and Kai Sotto on the mend from knee injury, Aguilar has called it quits after a 16-year service to the national team.
First suiting up in 2009, Aguilar’s Gilas career yielded three FIBA World Cup stints and an Asian Games gold medal in 2023.
“She [Aguilar’s wife Cassy] always tells my wife, ‘Can you please allow Japeth to retire so he can have more time with his kids and focus on his Ginebra career?’ I keep saying no and I’ve said no for the last three years,” said Cone with a smile.
“But with Kai coming back hopefully in February, theres a chance that now we can let Japeth retire.”
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.