Jack Animam has once again made Philippine basketball history.
The 24-year-old National University great has signed with Wuhan for the upcoming 2023-24 Women’s Chinese Basketball Association season.
Animam becomes the first Filipino to play in China’s premier league.
The CBA is starting to integrate Asian imports to their teams.
The 6-foot-3 big man out of Bulacan shared to Tiebreaker Times that she got the call from Shengfan after Gilas Women’s game against Chinese-Taipei in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup last June.
(C) FIBA.basketball
“Of course, I’m very happy. When I first got the call, it was right after our game against Chinese Taipei,” said Animam, who got 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting and 15 rebounds against Chinese-Taipei.
“Sabi ko parang di nga too good to be true. But I don’t want to focus on it yet kasi di pa tapos FIBA Asia.”
That is why Animam could not help but be grateful to her Gilas teammates for making her look good during the group phase of the continental meet.
“If it weren’t for them who put me in a good position, all their trust and encouragement na just play my game, and they have my back. They gave me so much confidence, kaya siguro ako napansin,” she said.
This will be Animam’s fourth overseas stint.
After her UAAP career, Animam played one year with Shih Hsin University.
Animam then went to Serbia to play for ŽKK Radnički and, later on, to France to represent USO Mondeville.
This time around, she will blaze the way for Filipino basketball players in China.
