Jack Animam hopes that there will be a women’s basketball league that many Filipino players can join in the future.
Animam said this after accepting an invitation to suit up for a school that invited her to see action as an import in the Taiwan’s University Basketball Association.
“Sobrang gusto talaga namin magkaroon ng women’s league dito sa atin kasi yes, there’s so much talent talaga,” said Animam in a podcast.
Animam is set to join Shih Hsin University when she finally gets cleared to travel.
The lack of women’s tourneys in the country is keeping Animam from staying put.
“It’s just that there’s no avenue to show people. Sayang,” added Animam, who led the Philippines to two gold medals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
“We have to go pa overseas just to play, kung puwede sana dito na lang sa atin diba?” she went on.
It was Animam’s dominant game on the floor which allowed her to help steer the National University Lady Bulldogs to six straight championships in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s basketball tournament.
With the 6’5” Animam around, the Lady Bulldogs established a league record of of 96 straight wins.
Coaches and players from Shih Hsin University came to Manila back in August 2019.
That’s when they saw how good Animam was.
“Kasi nu’ng August 2019, they came here for training camp. After that, ‘yung women’s coach nila nag-chat sa akin sa Instagram and then sabi niya, we would like you to join us for next season,” she said.
Animam recalled it took her time before finally accepting the invitation.
“So parang ako wow, really, ako? But then hindi pa siya nagsi-sink in sa akin kasi I still have UAAP to play and there’s SEA Games so parang hindi ko pa siya priority that time,” she said.
