MANILA (SEABA Championship 2017) - There was a time when Japeth Aguilar was the young buck being guided by the Philippine national team's veterans, but now the tables have turned.

At 30 years old, the high leaping 2.06m big man has stepped into the role once held by the likes of Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and LA Tenorio.

“Some of the players I grew up with have retired from national duty," he told the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). "Being one of the veterans, I have to play a bigger role. Not just in my game but also in what guidance I can provide.”

Japeth, of course, has been through a lot of battles for the Philippines. He has gone through his fair share of ups and downs with the national team. He knows how it is to miss the Quarter-Finals, to lose a lead late in the game, to mount a furious comeback in the fourth quarter and to win on the world stage. All these he will certainly use, serving as the bridge of the old and the new and helping Gilas's new blood along as they press forward to their long term goal of making the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

“The losses in Changsa and the OQT (Olympic Qualifying Tournament) stick in my mind,” he shared. “But I have to put that in the back of my head as there are new goals to look forward to, and SEABA is the first step in this new run of ours.”

Japeth is aware that the Philippines remain heavy favorites to sweep the SEABA Championship and easily earn their sub-zone's lone ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup, but he also knows that their ASEAN neighbors have been steadily improving. He believes they cannot take anything and anyone for granted, not when the stakes are very high.

“The game of basketball is growing in Southeast Asia," he explained. "We are seeing strong challenges from Thailand and Singapore. Think of where they will be in – five, 10 years from now? Hopefully, by then, we have taken the next step.”

The Philippines open their account against Myanmar today before facing Singapore tomorrow and Malaysia on Sunday. Gilas will take a break on Monday before playing dangerous Thailand on Tuesday. They tussle with Vietnam on 17 May and close their tournament against Indonesia on 18 May.

FIBA