Jack Animam returns to Gilas Pilipinas women’s basketball team for SEA Games

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Jack Animam is back.

After failing to suit up for the Gilas Pilipinas women’s national basketball team due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee, one of the most dominant Filipina hoopers in the country will be tasked to lead the pool in the upcoming 2023 Southeast Asian Games.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) made it official after announcing the final roster that will compete in Cambodia last May 3, 2023.

Before returning to national team duties, the towering center signed with the French basketball club Toulouse Metropole Basket for the upcoming season of the Ligue Feminine de Basketball (LFB).

Animam herself announced her latest professional basketball step in her young career last January 27, 2023.

Now with her focus back on Gilas, Animam will be looking to help the national team win its third-straight SEA Games gold medal.

Backstopping Animam in the lineup are veteran members and her former teammates Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Clare Castro, Ella Fajardo, and Camille Clarin.

Completing the pool that will play on May 10 are Khate Castillo, Trina Guytingco, Chack Cabinbin, Stefanie Berberabe, Andrea Tongco, and Angel Surada.

The Gilas women’s squad will be opening their SEA Games campaign against the host nation Cambodia, followed by a matchup against Singapore on May 11, Indonesia on May 12, and Vietnam on May 13.

Gilas’ last two days will then feature back-to-back tough games against Thailand and Malaysia on May 14 and 15, respectively.