Jack Animam poised for even bigger things

By Randy Caluag

JACK Danielle Animam, arguably the most accomplished homegrown Filipina basketball player today, was not exactly sure about her future when, at 12, she left her hometown of Lugam, Malolos to try her luck in the Big City.

Thirteen years later, she recounted her blessings—from fruitful campaigns with the National University and the national team, an overseas stint as an import in the Serbian women’s basketball league to being part of a cover of a sports magazine and Nike brand ambassador.

“Siksik, liglig, umaapaw,” was how she began her long social media post.

“I was 12 years (old) when I left Lugam (Malolos). I didn’t know what kind of life is waiting for me in the Metro, all I know is I can study for free and that was enough for me to have the courage to leave my comfort zone. And as they say, what happens next is history.”

The past weeks have been an overwhelming experience for Animam, a 6’5” lady cager who was born to a Nigerian father Ayo Jackson Animam, and a Filipina mother Erlinda Santo Tomas.

“Sabay-sabay lahat. From (Cambodia) SEA games, to the launch of the first-ever SLAM (Magazine) issue in the PH and my Nike campaign. I never imagined these things, and it is my reality now. I can’t still even fathom everything that happened.”

Animam said her plan was just to get free studies in college and get a good job. “That’s why I studied hard. ‘Di ako matalino pero masipag ako. Kasi ‘di ba sabi nga nila ‘pag may tiyaga may nilaga? So I used basketball to study. Little did I know, God has a different plan for me,” Animam added.

“If you told me this 10 years ago, that I would be able to do this and that, I wouldn’t believe you.” ing the World Aquatics-ordered polls at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Paranaque City.

Animam was encouraged by her high school principal to try basketball to become part of the school squad. With hesitation, she obliged. But her skills were further developed under coach Pat Aquino, when he took her under his wings at NU where they built the Lady Bulldogs’ empire that won six straight UAAP titles during her stay in the school.

Then, she joined Shin Hsin University for her master’s degree in public relations and helped the school clinch the2020–21 season of the Taiwan University League with an 18–0 win–loss record.

As a national player, also under coach Aquino, Animam was a two-time gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games. Her pro basketball career brought her to Serbia and France as an import.

“We are like brothers, who have been helping Philippine swimming. I asked him to come out and show himself,” said Buhain, adding his role as secretary general will bring him close to the heart of activities in swimming.

Vargas and Buhain, who also got 10 votes as secretary general, have been involved with organizing events put up by the Congress of Philippine Aquatic, Inc.

“He asked to be in that role. He wants to be in the heart of swimming (as secretary general) para hagip niya kayong lahat,” added Vargas. The 11 new members of the board of trustees will come from 19 representatives of over 300 swimming clubs, which earlier participated in the National Congress held last May 25.

But while Singson claimed the championship trophy, Uy, who scored her maiden win at Riviera in 2021, took the top purse of P90,000 while Ababa pocketed P64,500 as the second-best pro in the sixth leg of this year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI.

“Since I was leading most of the way, I just played it steady and told myself, ‘if it’s for me, it’s for me,’” said Singson, who upstaged pros Harmie Constantino and absentees Chanelle Avaricio and Sunshine Baraquiel by one for her breakthrough victory at Splendido Taal last year.

But thoughts of a second win hardly crossed her mind with a game that borders on mediocrity the past few months. She ended up tied at 11th at Caliraya Springs and wound up joint seventh at Villamor while faintly helping the national team in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

Add to that an opening 79 at the challenging Valley South Tuesday, things indeed didn’t seem to look good or promising for the Team ICTSI spearhead.

But she made a big U-turn in the second round, bucking all the odds, including tough conditions at the hilly layout and a two-hour long weather delay to produce a 69, the huge 10-shot recovery netting her the lead which she never relinquished.

Knights come from behind to frustrate Lions in finals’ opener

Games Today 2 p.m. – Univ. of Perpetual Help System Dalta vs EcoOil-La Salle 4 p.m. – Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran vs Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda

ANOTHER overtime game, another wi n for Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran.

Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran battled back from a 24-point deficit and stunned Marinerong Pilipino- San Beda, 93-87, in overtime on Thursday in Game 1 of the 2023 PBA Aspirants’ Cup semifinals at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.

Kurt Reyson took over in extra time, hitting seven straight points to key the win as the Knights grabbed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

It’s the second straight OT win for the Knights, who also worked overtime to beat the Centro Escolar University Scorpions on Tuesday to reach the Final Four.

“Uulitin ko lang na praise God kasi binigyan kami ulit ng pag-asa na manalo. Puro ganito ang game namin pero pasalamat kami dahil nao-overcome namin ‘yung ganitong trial, especially against a very strong team like San Beda,” said Letran coach Rensy Bajar.

“Ang sama ng simula namin. Pero ‘yung mga players namin, kumbaga sa ilang taon na, they’re born winners. Alam nila paano maglaro sa ganitong sitwasyon. Para sa amin, depensa lang talaga.”

Reyson scored 32 points, including 21 in the fourth quarter to keep Letran in the game.

Kevin Santos tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds, Vince Cuajao added 12, while Kyle Tolentino chipped in 10 and hit the game-tying triple in the last five seconds in regulation to force overtime.

It was a frustrating defeat for the Red Lions, who blew an early 34-10 lead and a 44-28 advantage at the half.

Jacob Cortez led San Beda with 24 points.

Jack Animam