The PBA All-Star Weekend is a welcome respite from the grind of the PBA season, more so for those who have gone through long postseason runs and logged on a ton of minutes. As such, players often treat the festivities with a more playful rather than competitive attitude. But Japeth Aguilar was one of the few that was able to blend both together. 

Aguilar took advantage of the three points the dunk was worth in the contest, as he made the most (and did not miss any) of his dunk opportunities. At 39 years old, Aguilar was named the All-Star Game MVP for the third time, tying Terrence Romeo and moving one step closer to tying Vergel Meneses, who holds the record with four MVP awards. 

The awards have never been an issue for Aguilar, who with eight PBA championships and four gold medals with Gilas Pilipinas is already one of the most decorated big men in Philippine basketball. Aguilar has been proof that being ready at all times pays off. The first overall selection in the 2009 PBA Draft has always done what has been asked of him, whether he has to set the screens that gets peers open, man the paint to deter the opposing offensive threat, or even take over on offense. 

This kind of versatility has allowed him to continue playing at a time when all his draft classmates not named Chris Ross have already moved on from the PBA. Japeth can adapt to almost any situation and in the case of this year’s All-Star Weekend, his dunks that were of need. 

A performance like this may not have any tangible ramifications for the upcoming conferences in PBA Season 50, but it can surely motivate Aguilar as he prepares for the Commissioner’s Cup and Governor’s Cup. The imports will certainly pose challenges on both ends of the floor and the chances of Aguilar’s age catching up to him are only going to get higher. His role could change and even fluctuate, but Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone can count on Aguilar to be ready when his number is called. 

In many ways, Japeth Aguilar has been one to set the tone and lay down a path others can follow. His stint with the NCAA Division I’s Western Kentucky Hilltoppers opened the eyes of Filipino athletes to opportunities beyond borders. His move to join the Philippine national team once he entered the PBA showed everyone that representing the country is a higher and greater calling. And now, Aguilar continues to show that age is just a number, and with the path he laid out, Aguilar will definitely leave the game in a much better place than when he entered.