The only remaining player that was part of the Gilas Pilipinas during its inception 16 years ago has decided to hang up his national team jersey.
And like how he unconditionally dedicated his blood, sweat and time to Gilas, the Nationals did everything they could to give Aguilar a fitting swan song.
Gilas defeated Guam, 95-71 at the Blue Eagle Gym – the exact place where Aguilar began spreading his wings.
“I thought, akala ko marami akong fitting na magre-retire na ako. Yung gold… Pero this one, mas sweet parang ganun kasi very nostalgic sa akin,” said Aguilar who was honored before the contest.
“Very fitting, very thankful ako sa moments na nakasama ko yung mga future Gilas. Sa mga young guys, very thankful ako sa moments na nagkasama kami on and off the court so yun,” he added.
Now 38-years-old, Aguilar has been with the national team beginning in 2009 where he became a part of Gilas 1 alongside guys like Marcio Lassiter, Chris Tiu and naturalized player Marcus Douthit.
With Gilas’ apparent lack of size during the 2010s, Aguilar became a mainstay to Gilas and was actually part of its three World Cup teams.
He played under head coach Chot Reyes in the 2014 edition in Spain, and then coach Yeng Guiao in 2019 in China and lastly, under Reyes once more in the 2023 FIBA World Cup which the country hosted.
Although walking away for good in the national team, Aguilar is confident that he is leaving Gilas in good hands especially with the addition of Quentin Millora-Brown to the potent frontline of Kai Sotto and AJ Edu.
“Very confident ako sa kanila, kaya nila. Malayo mararating nila, sobra. Kailangan suportahan lang natin sila, sobra patuloy lang ang pag-trust sa system, sa process. Actually, di pa natin nakikita yung full potential nila,” said Aguilar.
“Sobrang happy ako sa naging process, sobrang haba na ng time ko with the national team. Iiwan ko, nakikita ko na ganiyan yung mga players, sobrang promising. Naniniwala rin ako sa sinabi ni Coach Tim na pwedeng if magsasama-sama itong group na ito, malayo ang mararating,” he stressed.
