Japeth Aguilar turns back the clock, becomes oldest MVP in PBA All-Star Game history

Veteran high-flyer Japeth Aguilar proved that age is just a number as he delivered a spectacular performance to headline the 2026 PBA All-Star Game in Candon City.

Celebrating his 10th appearance in the league’s annual midseason showcase, the 39-year-old Barangay Ginebra big man turned in a crowd-pleasing performance to power Solid North to a 147-142 victory over South on Sunday night at the Candon City Arena.

Aguilar dazzled the fans with 29 points, highlighted by a flawless display in the dunk attempts where he converted all seven tries — each worth three points in the All-Star format.

His final slam came with just 24 seconds remaining and effectively sealed the win for the North squad, extending its dominance in the exhibition to six straight victories over the South since the 2010 edition.

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#WATCH: JAPETH IS THE STAR OF STARS

Japeth Aguilar put on a show for Team North en route to winning #PBA50 All-Star Game MVP honors#ReadMore https://t.co/MmsoM2VXLX

@justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/AvdLnANTn9

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 8, 2026

For his efforts, Aguilar was named the Most Valuable Player, making him the oldest player ever to capture the award in the history of the PBA All-Star Game.

“I’m just enjoying this All-Star game,” said Aguilar.

The achievement also gave Aguilar his third All-Star MVP recognition, though it marked his first time winning the honor outright.

He previously shared the award with Arwind Santos in 2019 and with Robert Bolick in 2024.

Aguilar’s latest accolade also came with a historical footnote. The veteran center surpassed the previous record held by Santos, who was 37 years old when he won the All-Star MVP in 2019.

More than the numbers, Aguilar’s performance served as a reminder that even after nearly two decades in the league, the athletic big man can still rise above the rim — and the competition — when the spotlight shines brightest.

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