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Tag: Jack Animam

  • Jack Animam leads Gilas Women charge in FIBA Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament bid 

    Jack Animam leads Gilas Women charge in FIBA Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament bid 

    Gilas Pilipinas Women have assembled a 17-player training pool that blends proven veterans with promising newcomers as the national team prepares for the FIBA Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Mexico.


    Leading the group is veteran center Jack Animam, who returns to the national team after last suiting up for the Philippines in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. 


    The experienced big woman is expected to anchor a frontline that also features 6-foot Kacey Dela Rosa and 6-foot-2 Tiffany Reyes.


    Dela Rosa rejoins the 5-on-5 national program after spending the past several months competing in the 3×3 circuit, while the 15-year-old Reyes earns her first opportunity to train with the senior national team, giving the coaching staff another young prospect to develop for the future.


    The backcourt will also receive a boost from Vanessa De Jesus, who was recently signed by WKBL club Busan BNK and has been designated as the Philippines’ restricted player.


    Also returning to the national team setup are veterans Afril Bernardino, Jhazmin Joson, Louna Ozar, Kent Pastrana, Janine Pontejos, Angel Surada, Ann Pingol, Tin Cayabyab, and Monique Del Carmen, providing the squad with a solid core of international experience.


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    Three players will be looking to make strong first impressions after earning spots in the national team pool. 


    Camille Malagar, Alyssa Rodriguez, and Jaz Salon join the program for the first time, with Salon bringing overseas experience as a 5-foot-3 Fil-Australian point guard currently playing for Colorado State University Pueblo.


    Completing the training pool is another rising talent in Sophia Dignadice, whose inclusion further reflects Gilas Women’s commitment to building a roster capable of competing both now and in the years ahead.


    The Philippines faces a daunting challenge in the FIBA Women’s Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will be held from August 17 to 23 in Guadalajara, Mexico. 


    Drawn into Group B, Gilas Women will take on host nation Mexico, Canada, and Senegal in the opening phase of the competition.


    Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the crossover semifinals, while the tournament champion will earn the lone berth to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament—the next crucial step toward securing a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.


    For Gilas Women, the tournament represents more than just another international campaign. It is an early opportunity to measure the program’s progress against world-class competition while integrating a new generation of talent alongside its established leaders, as the Philippines looks to take another significant step toward returning to the Olympic stage.


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  • Jack Animam looks forward to BT Toews-led Gilas Women campaign 

    Jack Animam looks forward to BT Toews-led Gilas Women campaign 

    Jack Animam sees a new opportunity for growth as Gilas Pilipinas Women enters a new chapter under head coach BT Toews, with the national team preparing for a crucial campaign in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

    The 6-foot-4 center, who recently made history by becoming the first homegrown Filipino player to compete in Poland’s Basket Liga Kobiet after signing with Energa Torun, is eager to be part of Toews’ system and experience his approach to the game.

    Animam’s excitement comes from a familiar connection. Fresh off a championship run with Denso in Japan, the Filipino standout will now work with a coach who also built a winning reputation in the same country after guiding Fujitsu to league championships in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

    “Nagulat ako siyempre, kasi galing ako sa Japan, tapos nag-coach din siya sa Japan. Parang, ‘Wow!’ Nagulat ako and excited to work with him. Siguro ‘yun nga, matagal na siyang nasa Japan and he’s been coaching in different parts ng world,” Animam said.

    Toews brings decades of international coaching experience, with previous stops at the University of Winnipeg, Canadian Academy High School, and several B.League clubs including Hyogo, Shibuya, and Toyama.


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    He officially took over the Gilas Pilipinas Women program last month, replacing longtime mentor Patrick Aquino.

    For Animam, the arrival of Toews gives the national team another valuable resource as Philippine women’s basketball continues to rise on the international stage.

    She believes the Canadian coach’s global background can help build on the foundation established during Aquino’s tenure.

    “Siguro ‘yung experience niya, lalo na ngayon paangat na nang paangat ‘yung estado ng Philippine women’s basketball na sinimulan ni Coach Pat (Aquino), ayun I think more on ‘yung kung ano ‘yung madadala ni Coach BT sa pagiging coach niya for the longest time on the international stage,” she said.

    Gilas Pilipinas Women will begin its first practice session under Toews on Tuesday as the squad starts preparations for the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament scheduled from August 17 to 23 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

    The Philippines faces a difficult Group B assignment, where it will battle host Mexico, Canada, and Senegal. The tournament presents another opportunity for Gilas Women to continue its progress and move closer to an Olympic berth.

    “I think you know kung ano ‘yung tinrabaho namin all these years na makarating kami sa ganitong estado at mabigyan kami ng oportunidad para lumaban, para magkaroon kami ng spot sa Olympic qualifiers, malaking bagay ‘yun sa amin,” the National University standout said.

    Although Animam is preparing for a new professional chapter in Poland, her focus remains with the national team first. The veteran center is committed to helping Gilas Women navigate its transition period and compete against some of the world’s strongest women’s basketball programs.

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  • Gilas Pilipinas veteran Jack Animam heads to Poland, signs with Energa Torun

    Gilas Pilipinas veteran Jack Animam heads to Poland, signs with Energa Torun

    Jack Animam’s latest destination now takes the Gilas Pilipinas Women standout back to Europe, where she will suit up for Energa Torun in the 2026-27 Orlen Basket Liga season following a championship campaign in Japan.


    Animam arrives in Poland with momentum after helping Denso Iris capture the Women’s Japan Basketball League (WJBL) championship. 

     

    The triumph came after Denso defeated the Toyota Antelopes in four games, with Animam starting in the series-clinching victory to cap a memorable season.

     

    The move also marks a return to familiar territory. Before her stint in Japan, the 6-foot-4 center played for FCC UAV Arad in Romania in 2025 and has steadily built one of the most extensive international careers among Filipino basketball players. 

     

    Her passport already includes professional stops in Serbia with Radnicki Kragujevac, France with Toulouse Metropole Basket and USO Mondeville, China with Wuhan Shengfan, and Australia with the Ringwood Hawks.

     

    Long before becoming a sought-after import overseas, however, Animam established herself as one of the best players in UAAP women’s basketball. 

     

    As one of the centerpieces of the National University Lady Bulldogs, she helped build one of the league’s most dominant dynasties, leading NU to five straight championships from Seasons 78 to 82. Along the way, she collected Rookie of the Year honors in 2015, the Most Valuable Player award in 2017, and Finals MVP in 2018.

     

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    Her success at the collegiate level naturally opened the door to a long national team career. Wearing the colors of Gilas Pilipinas Women, Animam has represented the country in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, FIBA 3×3, and the Southeast Asian Games, becoming one of the program’s cornerstone players. 

     

    She was instrumental in the Philippines’ breakthrough campaign at the 2019 SEA Games, where the country captured gold medals in both the women’s 5-on-5 and 3×3 basketball competitions on home soil.

     

    Her championship run in Japan further reinforced her reputation as one of the Philippines’ premier exports. 

     

    Joining Denso Iris for the 2025-26 campaign, Animam quickly became part of a historic season as the club claimed its first-ever WJBL championship. Now carrying that winning experience into another competitive European league, the Filipino star begins yet another chapter of a career defined by embracing new challenges.

     

    With another overseas contract secured, Animam’s journey continues to reflect not only her own growth as a player but also the increasing presence of Filipino women’s basketball on the global stage. 

     

    As she prepares for her debut with Energa Torun, she brings with her the experience of winning championships and leading the national team.

     

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