Jack Animam pushes individual dreams, progress aside to help lead next generation of Gilas Women players in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup.
Jack Animam is laser focused on representing the national team as she puts her own goals aside to continue showing up for Gilas Pilipinas Women in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
Staring at a 0-2 hole but buoyed by a valiant fight against world no. 9 Japan where they only lost by three points, Animam is attempting to rally the next generation players of Gilas Women.
Though admitting that she continues to shoot for self improvement, Animam is only concerned with taking the Philippines to the next level any time she puts on the Gilas jersey.
[READ: Gilas Women comeback falls short vs Japan in FIBA Women’s Asia Cup]
“Of course, there’s this thought [of wanting to be a better player]. But for me, I don’t think I want to be like this, I want to be like that,” said Animam after their loss against Japan.
“For me, the job is to play, and you know, representing the Philippines the best I can and every time I step on the floor and putting the Philippines on my chest, I give the best I can be and whatever comes after that, I guess, I just let my game speak for itself.”
Prior to her latest stint with the national team, Animam has been seeing action in various professional leagues abroad, and has continued to flourish in her individual growth.
But more than what she brings on the stat sheet, Gilas Women head coach Pat Aquino underscored Animam’s impact as a leader.
Bringing a youthful team to China filled with current UAAP stars, Aquino relies heavily on Animam to help him and the coaching staff in keeping the players focused on what lies ahead.
Having been with the team for years now, Animam is the perfect leader who walks her talk.
[RELATED: Jack Animam happy to see Gilas rise to the occasion with narrow loss vs Japan — ‘It still feels like a win’]
“I think with the experience of Jack playing for us at a very young age before also, she started very young. She knows the feeling of playing in these kind of games for FIBA, and with Jack there as a leader, and probably a mentor also for the young girls, it has a very very big effect on the girls,” said Aquino.
“With her there all the time, you know, guiding them, I think we have a future again for Philippine basketball for women,” he added.
After getting a rest day following back-to-back games, Animam and the rest of Gilas Women focus on their last play of group phase action against Lebanon. It is a must win game for Gilas to move on to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.
Gilas Women faces Lebanon on July 16, Wednesday.