JACK Animam is willing and ready to answer the call for the Gilas Pilipinas women’s squad.
Suiting up for Radnicki Kragujeva in Serbia might pose a problem for her plans, however.
“My heart and passion are always with the national team,” Animam said in an online press conference via Zoom.
“I’m very hopeful that the European schedule will be favorable for the FIBA events,” she added.
Animamis set to leave the country this Friday, making her likely out for the Pat Aquino-mentored team set to do battle in the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Amman, Jordan on Sept. 27 to Oct. 3.
The team is out to keep its place in the continent’s Level I division.
The 6-foot-5 Animam, who bagged the UAAP MVP plum in 2017 and won a gold with the Gilas women squad in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila in 2019, said she will respect her new team’s decision.
“With my current team, I’ll respect their decision,” she said.“I’ll do whatever’s best for the team.”
A Malolos, Bulacan native, Animam led Shih Hsin University to the University Basketball Association crown, and in the US in the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League.
She averaged 4.3 points on 50-percent shooting, on top of 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in the 2019 FIA Women’s Asia Cup in India where the team finished seventh.
Aquino, who is also the SamahangBasketbol ng Piipinas program director for women and Animam’s former coach at National University, is convinced Animam’s overseas stint in Serbia would only make her better.
“Siyempre, she’s going to play in one of the best basketball countries in the world. So iyong talent namakakalabanniya doon will only help her na ma-improve pa, laloiyonggalingniya,” Aquino said.
“It’s something she can bring back here saatin and share to our local players para tumaaslaloiyong level of play ng mgababaedito.”
Despite the new chapter in Animam’s career, Aquino is hoping her prized ward can still don the country’s colors.
“This is not just an achievement of Jack, but an achievement that is celebrated by many young Filipina ballers,” he said.
