Japeth Aguilar Relishes All-Star MVP Honor as Career Winds Down

"At 39, Japeth Aguilar made sure to leave a lasting impression on fans at the PBAAll-StarGame , fully aware that his time in the league is drawing to a close. The Barangay Ginebra forward became the oldest All-Star Game MVP in history after leading the North All-Stars to a 149-144 victory over the South All-Stars at the Candon City Arena on Sunday, March 8. Aguilar put on a spectacular show, scoring 29 points—including seven dunks worth 3 points each—along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. His performance helped the North team extend its All-Star win streak over the South to six straight years since 2010.

""I’m thankful to God for this event. The first-timers have many chances ahead of them, but for me, you never know, maybe there are only a few left,"" said Aguilar, reflecting on the significance of the achievement as his career nears its twilight. Aguilar surpassed Arwind Santos as the oldest player to win the All-Star MVP, with Santos previously holding the record at 37 when he shared the honor with Aguilar in 2019.

This marks Aguilar’s third All-Star MVP award, and his first as a solo winner, having previously tied with Robert Bolick in 2024. Over the course of his storied career, Aguilar has won eight championships and made the Mythical First Team three times. In what is likely one of his final All-Star appearances, he also cherished the opportunity to bond with the league’s emerging stars.

While it was Aguilar’s 10th All-Star Game, the North team featured six first-time participants, including his Ginebra teammate Stephen Holt, Converge’s Juan Gomez de Liaño, Justin Arana, and Justine Baltazar, Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum, and Meralco’s CJ Cansino. Aguilar was quick to praise the younger players, saying, “They’re the future of the league. I told them they’re going to be here for a while.”

Aguilar kicked off the game with three quick dunks, helping the North jump to an early lead that reached as high as 43-28. He capped off the win with a two-handed jam in the final 24 seconds, securing the victory for his team.

CJPerez also impressed for the North, contributing 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Gomez de Liaño nearly recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, while Nocum added 22 points. Arana posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, including 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, Alec Stockton put up a strong showing for the South, leading with 29 points, 6 assists, 5 steals, 4 rebounds, and 1 block, using his defensive energy to help bring the South back into the game."

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