Jack Animam was in tears after the Philippines reached the qualification round for the semifinal stage of the 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Center on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old, 6’5” center of the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s Team did not expect that she would go this far with her teammates in this tournament, which will not only crown the champions of Asia/Oceania region, but serve as a qualifier for four deserving teams to the 2024 Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Beating Chinese Taipei, 92-81, for its only win in three matches in Pool B moved Team Philippines a win shy of earning a slot the Olympic qualifiers.
Animam’s and the rest of the team’s work, however, isn’t finished yet as the Filipinas will clash with New Zealand at 3 p.m. Friday (Manila time) to shoot for a semis seat.
The 6’5” Animam felt that she was able to contribute to the team with her 16 points and 15 rebounds in that game.
“I’m just happy. Personally, even with one minute and 18 seconds left in that game, I was gonna cry already because this game meant a lot so much to everybody, especially myself,” said Animam, who became emotional with 1:19 left after new teammate Vanessa de Jesus scored on a floater off her rebound to hand the Filipinas an 86-76 lead.
Animam returned to action last January, a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while suiting up for Serbian club Radnicki Kragujevac.
“This is like my redemption year. I didn’t know if I’m gonna be the same Jack that I was before,” added Animam, who was around when the Philippines earned silver medals in women’s basketball and in the 3×3 cagefest of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
The New Zealand Ferns bounced back from their Day 2, 46-80 loss to China with a 76-45 triumph over Lebanon.
Australia, which placed second in Group B at 2-1, took a 66-91 battering at the hands of Japan, will seek out the other semis berth when it meets Korea at 5:30 p.m.
Gilas women’s coach Patrick Aquino said fans back in the Philippines are ecstatic over their chances.
“Everybody’s crazy back home. Everybody wants to congratulate us. This is for the country, this is for the program. I hope this is not our last win in the tournament (game with Chinese-Taipei),” said Aquino.
