At 4 AM, On His Own: The Making of UAAP Tennis MVP JB Aguilar

Sometimes it starts with family. Sometimes with curiosity. And sometimes, it begins with a simple invitation you didn’t expect to change everything.

For JB Aguilar, tennis was never a random choice. It was always around him — in the courts, in his family, in the people who introduced him to the game.

“Nag-start ako 7 years old. Sabay kami ng daddy ko,” he shared. 

“Pulot-pulot din ako dati sa court namin sa Bicol… yung lolo ko dating presidente ng PHILTA. Parang family talaga kami nagte-tennis.”

‘Basketball talaga yung sports ko nung bata ako.’

Before tennis, though, his world looked different.

“Basketball talaga yung sports ko nung bata ako,” he said.

But something about tennis pulled him in — something quieter, more personal.

“Mas maganda yung tennis kasi isa ka lang sa court. Yung basketball kasi team, gusto ko kasi ako lang mag-isa.”

That decision — choosing tennis over basketball — would shape everything that came after.

His early years in the sport weren’t about big stages yet. They were about exposure. About learning how competition felt.

“Nag-start ako sa Palaro, municipal meet, inter-school, Cebuana Lhuillier tournaments. Doon ako na-expose mag-tournament talaga.”

‘Makulit ako. Gusto ko talaga gumaling.’

And even as a kid, he already had a dream.

“Bata pa lang ako, pangarap ko makagold sa Palarong Pambansa.”

It wasn’t an easy road getting there. It took years of competing, losing, learning, and showing up again.

He finally reached that goal at 18. But what shaped him just as much as those wins was what happened during the quiet, uncertain years — especially the pandemic.

While many stayed inside, he chose a different path.

“Nagpursige talaga ako nung pandemic. Nag-bike ako, tennis, takbo, nagta-triathlon din ako.”

There was no off-season for him.

“Ako talaga makulit ako. Gusto ko talaga gumaling.”

That consistency paid off.

“Masasabi ko malaking tulong yun,” he added.

‘Nananalo ako pero talo pa rin sila.’

When competitions returned, so did his confidence. And not long after, he started proving himself in bigger stages — even against more experienced players.

“After pandemic, nagkaroon ng men’s open sa amin, doon ko na-try. Doon yung unang panalo ko sa men’s.”

But tennis, as he puts it, isn’t just about physical ability. It’s mental.

“Medyo mahirap. Hindi madali manalo mag-isa. Ang tennis kasi mental game yan eh.”

And that’s where his biggest challenges came in — especially in a team environment like the UAAP.

“Medyo malungkot kasi nananalo ako pero talo pa din sila.”

Still, he never allowed that to define him.

“Iniisip ko na lang na kaya pa, hindi ako mag papatalo.”

That mindset pushed him to train harder — even when no one else was watching.

4 AM and On His Own

“Gumigising ako ng 4am, tumatakbo, mag-gym. Sa tanghali papalo, hapon papasok sa klase, gabi gym ulit.”

It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t easy. But it was consistent.

“Yun lang yung routine ko para yung mindset ko gusto ko manalo, talunin ko lahat.”

Over time, that mindset translated into results. Players he once struggled against became players he could now compete with — and even beat.

But instead of celebrating those moments as dominance, he keeps it grounded.

“Tsamba lang yun,” 

Still, there’s no denying the growth.

‘Dapat chill lang.’

And if you watch him play, you’ll notice something different. He smiles and he looks relaxed.

He plays like he’s enjoying every point — even in high-pressure moments. That’s not by accident.

“Pag mas lalo mong iniisip na talunin ko to, mas lalo kang mappressure. Dapat chill lang.”

For him, the key to winning isn’t forcing it.

“Pag chill ka lang sa court, nothing to lose… dyan mas more yung winning.”

It’s a mindset shaped by experience — by losses, pressure, and learning when to let go. Even in the technical side of the game, his approach was simple.

“Tinitignan ko lang yung timing ng racket ng kalaban,” he said when asked how he reads plays.

Tennis Was Never A Burden

It’s instinct now — something built through repetition, training, and guidance from mentors he looks up to.

“Isa sa motivation ko si Kuya Johnny (Arcilla), idol ko siya. Gusto ko talagang gagayahin siya.”

And through all of it, one lesson stuck the most. That is having self discipline, pushing yourself to work hard even when no one is looking. It’s what keeps him grounded. What keeps him improving. What keeps him showing up — day after day.

Because for him, tennis has never felt like a burden.

“Pag mahal mo talaga yung ginagawa mo, hindi ka mabuburnout,” he said.

And maybe that’s why, despite everything — the pressure, the expectations, the grind — he still plays the way he does. Relaxed. Smiling. Present.

Even if people don’t always see that side of him.

“Mahiyain ako, pero alam nila hindi ako mahiyain eh. Mahiyain talaga ako sa court. Kaya in-enjoy ko lang sarili ko. Pansin nyo naman siguro yan, hindi ako namamansin ng tao.” 

So instead, he lets his game speak.

And on the court, you can see it clearly — not just the skill, not just the discipline, but the quiet confidence of someone who chose this path early and decided to keep going, no matter how hard it got.

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