Japeth Aguilar admitted feeling a bit sentimental after helping Barangay Ginebra secure another PBA Finals appearance, especially at this point of his career.

“Pahirap na nang pahirap (It’s getting more and more difficult),” Aguilar told the Inquirer in a quick chat while carrying his 2-year-old son Jasiah after the Gin Kings’ conquest of the San Miguel Beermen in their recent Governors’ Cup semifinal series.

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Aguilar will be seeking a ninth PBA championship in his 12th appearance on the grandest stage, which he hopes to fulfill against his former team TNT in the series that starts Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

But Aguilar seems to be cherishing this latest Finals sojourn. Now at age 37, he is a season removed from watching Ginebra fail at winning a title following two semifinal exits.

“It takes a lot to get to the Finals, especially now that I’m past 35,” Aguilar said after a grueling semis dealing with San Miguel star and good friend June Mar Fajardo.

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Aguilar made life challenging for Fajardo, which greatly contributed in the Gin Kings getting the job done against their sister team under the San Miguel Corporation conglomerate.

Aguilar tallied 17.8 points on a 62-percent rate from the field with 5.8 rebounds during the series that went six games. He was also key in terms of providing offense outside the likes of Justin Brownlee and rookie RJ Abarrientos.

And his role on both ends will be important against the Tropang Giga, the same team the Gin Kings faced in a losing result back in the 2023 Governors’ Cup.

The bulk of Aguilar’s championships came in the same Governors’ Cup with four and he was Finals MVP when Ginebra defeated Meralco for the third time in 2019.

His other titles with Ginebra came in the 2018 and 2022 Commissioner’s Cup and 2020 Philippine Cup while also winning one in the 2012 Philippine Cup while still playing for TNT. INQ