Gilas Pilipinas Womens standout Jack Animam to fly to France and play for Toulouse Métropole Basket in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball.
The first Philippine-born player to be signed by a European professional basketball club is ready to take on another challenge as Jack Animam is set to play in France after recovering from a knee injury.
Philippine’s top female player Animam has been invited to play for Toulouse Métropole Basket (TMB), the home team of the southern French city, in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB), as confirmed on Friday, January 27.
Before the news broke out, Animam was set to banner the Manila Hustle 3×3, an invitational club tournament featuring six local and six more visiting crews, with Gilas teammates Janine Pontejos, Khate Castillo, and Trina Guytingco to play for the Lady Macbeth Riots, reported Sports Inquirer.
“I really appreciate her. She headlined the campaign when we introduced this league. But we cannot not be happy for her,” Peachy Medina, the tournament’s director and owner of the two clubs competing in the showcase, said of Animam’s announcement.
“She’s the poster girl of what this league could lead to the development of more Jack Animams.”
Before getting hindered by a knee injury for more than a year, Animam was training in the United States in the hopes of cracking the WNBA scene and landed a spot with Radnicki Kragujevac in the First Women’s Basketball League of Serbia.
The 24-year-old posted an average of double-double with 20 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game seven games in before suffering a season-ending injury.
“To be honest I don’t know what to feel. Halo-halong emosyon (mixed emotions). I’m nervous, anxious but I’m just so excited,” Animam told Rappler.
“This is what I’ve been working for a year and a month now. As I said, all I need is an opportunity. And this is it! This is the cultivation of my hard work and sacrifices all throughout my rehab journey. And right now I’m already very thankful to my new team for taking a chance on me. I can’t wait to play with and for them.”
Animam was just getting back in form and began training with the national team towards the end of 2022, reuniting with her mentor from National University and in the Gilas Women's program coach Pat Aquino, before entertaining the offers from overseas.
According to an insider, Animam is set to leave for France on Friday night to hopefully catch Toulouse's game on Sunday, January 29, against Flammes Carolo to boost the team’s current win-loss record of 2-8.
Tags: #womensbasketball, #import, #Euroleague