Jack Animam has been away from her family for almost a year.
Back in October, she left the Philippines to go to Taiwan to study and play for Shih Hsin University.
After leading the Tigers to the University Basketball Alliance championship, the 22-year-old went home for just a month before going to the United States to train in East West Private.
Photo from EWP
Come Friday, she will leave the US and head to Serbia to join Radnički Kragujevac.
Yes, in just 10 months, Animam will have gone to four countries. And it’s still surreal for the native of Bulacan.
“Every night before I go to sleep, mapapaisip na lang ako ng, ‘Wow! Grabe!’ I cannot believe that this is all happening all at once.
“I’m just really grateful and beyond blessed to be this far. I wouldn’t be in this position without my coach Pat (Aquino), sir Hans (Sy), sir Herson (Sy), EWP, and my teammates in NU, also Gilas and SBP, feeling ko nasa Cloud Nine ako,” she expressed during a press conference hosted by East West Private. “Sobrang saya lang na I’m here right now and going to Serbia to show what a Filipino can do.”
Even Animam would not deny that she is doing all of this for her personal development.
But it’s also her sacrifice for the country.
Through the years, Animam has been the voice for women’s basketball, asking for better coverage, more grassroots programs, and more opportunities for the sport and its players to grow.
And Animam is showing that even in a pandemic, anything is possible.
“I’m not doing this for myself but I’m doing this also for the young girls. We know that there’s not much support for women’s basketball in the Philippines,” she expressed.
“I’m hoping that I can inspire all athletes that even though that there is a pandemic, kahit anong hadlang, it doesn’t matter for as long as you want it.”
Gilas Women’s program director and head coach Patrick Aquino could not help but feel emotional, since he has been with Animam when she was just nine years old.
And he is hoping that Animam would just be the start, and more Filipino basketball players will receive the opportunity to play not just here, but also overseas.
“She’s the face of women’s basketball right now, our ambassador in the SBP. We are proud of her achievements already,” he said.
“Hopefully, more girls will follow her and achieve more. She’s the spark and hopefully more to come. “
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