Japeth Aguilar pays tribute to past captains Alapag, Norwood as he leads new-look Gilas

In his third consecutive FIBA World Cup appearance, Japeth Aguilar will have a heavier role resting on his shoulders.

The 36-year-old Barangay Ginebra high-flying big man has been named the new team captain who will be leading a new-look Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup  that the country is hosting for the first time since 1978.

And the veteran baller said he owed it to the past national team captains who walked before him.

"I'm really, as a person, not really vocal pero I just want to thank 'yung mga naging captain ball ko kasi they paved the way. They represented the Philippines with dignity, with honor, pride, and respect," Aguilar said following the team's first practice at the Smart Araneta Coliseum late Monday.

"So 'yun 'yung nakita ko sa kanila and you know, they're household names here in the Philippines, Jimmy Alapag and Gabe Norwood."

(I'm really, as a person, not really vocal but I just want to thank my previous captains because they paved the way. They represented the Philippines with dignity, with honor, pride, and respect. That's what I saw in them and you know, they're household names here in the Philippines, Jimmy Alapag and Gabe Norwood.)

New team captain Japeth Aguilar says he owes it to past Gilas captains for paving the way for him ???? @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/tvMTVMvDe7

— Bea Micaller (@beamicallerrr) August 23, 2023

Aguilar has been consistent in answering the call of duty for the past 14 years. During those times, he was lucky enough to be part of the 2014 and 2019 World Cup squads who competed in Spain and China, respectively.

And in both occasions, the former top PBA pick was able to be under the guidance of two household names in Philippine basketball, Jimmy Alapag and Gabe Norwood, who assumed captainship in the 2014 and 2019 World Cup campaigns.

Now that the responsibility was given to him, Aguilar said he just wants to continue what Alapag and Norwood had started.

"They really set the bar high and I just wanna thank them 'cause they really paved the way for us, for me."

Aguilar hopes his leadership and Gilas' rigorous training in the past months would translate into wins when they open their campaign this Friday against Dominican Republic.

Still, Aguilar stressed everything remains '50-50' at this point given the caliber and quality of play the Dominicans have.

"Kailangan naming i-execute 'yung game plan but you know, at the end of the day even if we play a perfect game, with the caliber that the Dominican Republic has, it's still a 50-50 game. We just gotta do our best."

(We need to execute the game plan but you know, at the end of the day even if we play a perfect game, with the caliber that the Dominican Republic has, it's still a 50-50 game. We just gotta do our best.)

After Dominican Republic on Friday at the Philippine Arena, the Philippines will face Angola on August 27 and Italy on August 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News