MVP Japeth Aguilar savors All-Star experience as career nears twilight

Japeth Aguilar, at 39 years old, became the oldest MVP in PBA All-Star Game history, leading the North All-Stars to a 149-144 victory over the South All-Stars in Candon City, Ilocos Sur. He surpassed the previous record held by Arwind Santos, who was 37 when he shared the award with Aguilar in 2019.

Aguilar scored 29 points, including seven 3-point dunks, along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. This marked his third All-Star MVP award overall and his first as the sole winner, having previously shared the honor in 2024. He acknowledged that his playing career is nearing its end, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and highlighting the younger players as the league's future.

The North team featured six first-time All-Stars, including Stephen Holt and Juan Gomez de Liaño. Aguilar started the game strongly with three quick dunks, helping his team build an early lead, and sealed the win with a final dunk in the closing seconds. Other key performers for the North included CJ Perez with 32 points and Gomez de Liaño, who nearly achieved a triple-double.

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