Pillars in the Philippine women’s basketball community, Gilas Pilipinas' Jack Animam and La Salle alumna Marga Jimenez see the impact of the Ja Morant tour to Filipina ballers.
Philippine women’s basketball has hit significant strides over the past few years, with Filipina cagers using their talent and exposure to showcase their game to the next level.
Among the biggest evidence of the change is the increasing visibility of women’s basketball in various big-ticket events in the country.
Most recently, this was exhibited in Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant’s Manila stop, where the teams in the exhibition game at The Courtyard in BGC featured equal parts boys and girls across the two squads that competed in front of the two-time NBA All-Star.
Playing a friendly pickup to showcase Philippine basketball to Morant, the local hoopers were reinforced by more veteran players and Nike athletes like Gilas Pilipinas Women’s Jack Animam, and former UAAP star Marga Jimenez of the DLSU Lady Archers.
Having experienced a totally different environment in women’s basketball earlier on in their careers, both players relished the feeling of having more opportunities for female players in the country.
“Syempre, personally, makita yung ganito karaming babae to join this event, sobrang happy and yun nga, nung bata ako, wala, but now unti-unti meron na," Animam said.
"Kudos to Nike for having this event and we’re a basketball-crazed country so dapat lang na yung mga basketball star, dito pumunta and the kids can see kasi representation matters and to see these girls play, and di lang basta laro, talagang may skills and talent. [It’s] amazing," she added.
“Sabi nga ni Mariana [Lopa] di ba, you can’t be who you can’t see. So, with all these high school players, us on the court, it inspires so many young girls — most especially the ones from the community. It makes them dream and like Ja said, Make Them Watch, for them to be here as well,” Jimenez said.
Momentum has been building for Filipina cagers, especially since the national team had just come from their stint in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup where they finished 6th. The placing was significant, as it guaranteed the Gilas Women a spot in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
For Animam, Morant’s event continues to show Filipina ballers that they can do anything — as long as they put their mind to it.
“I think the lesson is that nobody said that it’s gonna be easy but you have to continue working and keep going and keep the faith,” said Animam.
“Because at the end of the day, one day, darating yung one day mo na you’re gonna be in the spotlight, all the lights are going to be on you, all the cameras are gonna be on you and that just shows Ja Morant’s journey,” she added.
Meanwhile, also being able to relish the spotlight were high school players from La Salle. As an alumna herself, Jimenez also hoped it inspires them to take their game to the next level.
“Very proud of course, I will always rep my alma mater and maybe it’s not just to inspire people to dream like for example, Nike, or NBA, but even the UAAP. Malay mo, those players di ba, they’ll end up being in La Salle. It doesn’t cost someone to dream big,” she said.