SHENZHEN (China) - Jack Animam will have to embrace a responsibility far greater than what she has been used to as the Philippines hope to break new ground in the upcoming FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025.
At 26, the well-travelled center is now seen to provide much needed veteran presence for a Gilas Women side that's become younger, as her long-time running mates won't be available for the July 13-20 meet.
National team mainstays Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, and Andrea Tongco are all missing the tournament because of military obligations, thus leaving nearly all the leadership duties to her.
It is, needless to say, an unenviable task for Animam.
While she's been the face of women's hoops in the country for years now, the first Filipina to play professionally in Europe is expected to be more assertive in steering a program that's no longer content in staying in Division A.
No less than head coach Pat Aquino is pushing her crew to up the ante this time around, especially with a total of six tickets to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments up for grabs.
The top six teams of the 2025 Women's Asia Cup will head to the said contest, and so securing a place within that is the main objective of a side who earned the promotion to the top division eight years ago in Wuhan, China.
Well, there's some sense of confidence from the veteran mentor that his charges could do so. The previous edition in Sydney, Australia saw the squad finish at sixth - that, after four seventh-place finishes in a row.
And playing a major role in that improvement was Animam herself, who nearly averaged a double-double for Gilas Women with 10.0 points and 9.6 rebounds. She led them in efficiency (EFF) as well with a rating of 17.6.
It was a coming-out party of sorts for the four-year pro in the FIBA stage, but showed that she can elevate her game higher during the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament last year.
Although the Philippines fell short of posting a single win in Rwanda, Animam was without a doubt their best player with team-highs of 13.0 points and 9.3 rebounds, along with 1.7 steals and 2.0 blocks in three games.
Those stints of hers were also proof of how much she's grown since leaving the country in 2021 to go play in Europe, where she's been spending much of her career, and blaze a trail for younger generations.
Currently with FCC UAV Arad of the Liga Națională in Romania, her still-broadening experience as a pro has indeed made her unfazed - no matter how bright the lights could get, and regardless of how big the stage could be.
That's why it should be interesting to see how Animam would respond once the 2025 Women's Asia Cup begins, given the amount of weight she has to carry on her shoulders in their bid to go as high as they can.
But if we consider her last two tours of duties, we can all be certain that she'd pass the test.
And perhaps, with flying colors, too.
FIBA