'Karangalan ang makasama ka': Fajardo, fans laud Aguilar after Gilas retirement
- Rodolfo Dacleson II
- Dec 6, 2025
- 2 min read
Filipino basketball fans took to social media to honor Japeth Aguilar after the veteran big man announced his retirement from the national team on Monday, December 1.
Aguilar received a framed Gilas Pilipinas jersey No. 25 from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in a short ceremony at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City, where a proud Filipino crowd celebrated the end of his 16-year service.
Gilas capped the night with a fitting tribute on the floor, cruising to a 95-71 win over Guam for a 2-0 start in Group A of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The 38-year-old Barangay Ginebra center shared that he had delayed retirement in recent years as the national team faced unforeseen setbacks, such as Kai Sotto’s ACL injury.
“Akala ko marami [na] akong fitting [game] na magre-retire na ako—‘yung gold [sa 2023 Asian Games]. But this one, mas sweet kasi very nostalgic sa akin,” said Aguilar, who finished with three points, a rebound, and a steal in 10 minutes as a starter against Guam, as quoted by Spin.ph.
Before becoming a Gilas mainstay, Aguilar played for Ateneo de Manila University from 2004 to 20025, practicing and competing in several University Athletic Association of the Philippines games at the same venue where his jersey was honored.
He later became the first Philippine-born player to appear in the United States National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and, in 2012, the first Filipino drafted into the National Basketball Development League when he was selected 13th overall by the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Aguilar, meanwhile, expressed confidence in Gilas’ emerging frontline of Sotto, AJ Edu, and Quentin Millora-Brown.
“Sana maging healthy sila para buo ‘yung core kasi ‘di pa natin nakikita yung full potential nila. Abangan and suportahan natin sila. Naniniwala rin ako sa sinabi ni coach Tim na puwedeng if magsasama-sama itong group na ito, malayo ang mararating [nila],” he said, as reported by Pang-Masa Sports.
Online, nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo joined fans to extend heartfelt gratitude to his Gilas teammate Aguilar, who debuted for the national team in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship, now known as the FIBA Asia Cup.
The Sasmuan, Pampanga native represented the Philippines in three straight FIBA World Cups from 2014 to 2023. He also helped end a 61-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games in 2023 and won silver in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, which marked the country’s return to the World Cup after nearly four decades.
“Ang dami kong memories. ‘Yung samahan, ‘yung training camps, at iyung process and progress to build the team,” said Aguilar of what he’ll miss with Gilas in a report by Manila Standard Sports.
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