Jack Animam

Jack Danielle Santo Tomas Animam (born November 27, 1998) is a Filipino professional basketball player for USO Mondeville Basket of the Division 2 Ligue Féminine de Basketball.[1] She also represents the Philippine national team.[2][3]

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Santo Tomas and the surname or paternal family name is Animam.

Jack Animam
No. 10 – Wuhan Shengfan
PositionCenter
LeagueWomen's Chinese Basketball Association
Personal information
Born (1998-11-27) November 27, 1998
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight168 lb (76 kg)
Career information
College
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021ŽKK Radnički Kragujevac
2023Toulouse Métropole Basket
2023USO Mondeville Basket
2023–presentWuhan Shengfan
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Philippines
SEABA Championship
Gold medal – first place2016 Malacca CityTeam
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2019 PhilippinesTeam
Silver medal – second place2023 Phnom PenhTeam
Women's 3x3 basketball
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2019 PhilippinesTeam
Silver medal – second place2023 Phnom PenhTeam

Early life and education

A native of Malolos, Bulacan, Animam was born to Ayo Jackson Animam from Nigeria and Erlinda Santo Tomas. Her mother was an Overseas Filipino Worker.[4]

She reluctantly took up basketball when she was in high school and was just convinced by her school's principal to join their varsity team since they lack players. Animam's hesitation to take up the sport is due to the notion that basketball is a men's sports, and women that do play the sport are lesbians.[5]

Animam studied at the National University (NU) in Manila for her collegiate studies.[3] She entered Shih Hsin University in Taiwan in 2020 to earn a master's degree in public relations as a student-athlete. She wanted to obtain her master's degree at NU, but the university did not offer any master's degree on business administration at that time.[6]

College career

National University (Philippines)

Animam became skilled enough to be brought to the National University by coach Patrick Aquino while she was still in high school and was included in the NU Lady Bulldogs senior pool, since they don't have a girls' junior program.[5] She became a key player for the NU Lady Bulldogs playing for the team for six years.[7] The Bulldogs won six straight women's basketball UAAP titles with Animam, although Animam herself did not feature in the best of three finals of UAAP Season 82 due to an eye injury.[8] She was also named part of the UAAP Mythical Five four times, won the Rookie of the Year in 2015, given an MVP award in 2017, and was named Finals MVP in 2018.[9]

Shin Hsin University

In 2019, the Shih Hsin University offered her to play for their team which competes in Taiwan's University Basketball Association (UBA).[3] Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved to Taiwan in October 2020[10] and made her debut for the Tigers on November 16, 2020.[11] While playing with the Tigers in the UBA, she had to adjust having been accustomed to a more physical style of play which is more prevalent in the Philippines to lessen her chances of being given a foul.[9] She helped her team clinch the 2020–21 season with a 18–0 win–loss record.[12][13] Animam helped her team clinch the 2020–21 UBA championship, with the Tigers winning all their 18 games for that season.[14]

Club career

After the 2020–21 UBA season Animam joined United States-based talent agency East West Private (EWP) and went to Ohio to undergo training as part of a long term bid to get into the WNBA.[15] She then suit up for the Zone 6 Celtics in the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League (AEBL).[16] Animam spent three months of training under Coach Dante Harlan with EWP. She was likewised mentored and advised by fellow basketballer Imani McGee-Stafford.[17]

Radnički Kragujevac (2021)

In August 2021, Animam joined ŽKK Radnički Kragujevac of the First Women's Basketball League of Serbia under a contract that would last until March 2022.[18][17] Animam made her debut for Radnički in October 2021. She contributed 20 points in her team's 78–77 win against Proleter 023.[19]

In December 2021, Animam sustained ACL and MCL injuries which made her unavailable for at least six months, effectively ending her 2021–22 season run. In the eight games she did play, Animam recorded an average of 20.0 points and 14.3 rebounds. She went back to the United States to undergo surgery and to recover from her injuries.[20][21] She would recover and be cleared to play again on October 2022.[22]

Toulouse Metropole Basket (2023)

Animam returned playing, joining Toulouse Metropole Basket of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball in France in January 2023.[23]

Union Sportive Ouvrière Mondeville Basket (2023)

After her stint in Toulouse Metropole Basket, She transferred with USO Mondeville in March 2023.[24]

Wuhan Shengfan (2023–)

Animam accepted an offer to play for the Wuhan Shengfan of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association while playing for the Philippines in the 2023 FIBA Women's Asia Cup. She is set to play for Shengfan in the 2023–24 season.[25]

National team career

Animam has represented the Philippines, being the youngest Filipino player at the 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship at age 16.[4] She has played for her country in other international basketball competitions such as the 2016 SEABA Championship, and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. At the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, Animam was two-time gold medalist helping clinch the women's team and women's 3x3 title for the Philippines.[4]

Animam is also part of the national 3x3 team which competed for the Philippines at the 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup[26] and the 2019 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup.[27]

Advocacy

Animam has been an advocate for women's basketball in the Philippines, especially after her 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup stint. She has urged for the establishment of a women's league in the Philippines where collegiate women basketball players could continue their career.[5][28]

Awards and recognition

The Philippine Sportswriters Association conferred Animam the title of Ms. Basketball for its 2019 PSA Annual Awards Night held in early 2020. Animam is the first ever player to be given the recognition by the sports journalist organization.[29]

References
  1. "Jack Animam: The voice of women's basketball". Rappler.
  2. "Jack Danielle ANIMAM (PHI)'s profile". 2019 FIBA Women's Asia Cup Division A. FIBA. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  3. Giongco, Mark (July 2, 2020). "PH women's basketball star Jack Animam takes talents to Taiwan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  4. Clarito, Ariel Ian (April 7, 2020). "Jack Animam: The voice of women's basketball". Rappler. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  5. Tantenngco, Cej (October 2, 2020). "UAAP Women's Basketball MVP Jack Animam almost never played basketball". Slam Philippines. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  6. Dalupang, Denison Rey A. (March 24, 2021). "Animam looking to master more than just the game". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  7. Lintag, Paul Kennedy (March 25, 2020). "Ms. Basketball Jack Animam continues fight for women ballers". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  8. Carandang, Justin Kenneth (November 23, 2019). "NU Lady Bulldogs dedicate sixth straight title to Jack Animam". GMA News. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  9. "Jack Animam bent on showing that 'Filipinas can play ball anywhere'". ESPN.com. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  10. Ulanday, John Bryan (October 8, 2020). "Jack Animam now in Taiwan for stint as import". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  11. Morales, Luisa (November 18, 2020). "Gilas women star Jack Animam flashes dominant brand of play in Taiwan stint". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  12. Ulanday, John Bryan (March 23, 2021). "Animam, Tigers clinch title". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  13. "FIBA shines spotlight on Jack Animam's basketball journey". ABS-CBN News. March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  14. "Jack Animam gains another title, as Shih Hsin claims UBA crown". ABS-CBN News. June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  15. Naredo, Camille (May 18, 2021). "After triumphant stint in Taiwan, Jack Animam tries her luck in the US". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  16. Micaller, Bea (June 27, 2021). "Filipina basketball ace Jack Animam shines in US pro-am tilt". GMA News. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  17. Li, Matthew (August 24, 2021). "Jack Animam hopes SPD Radnički stint leads to WNBA". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  18. Micaller, Bea (August 24, 2021). "Jack Animam remains committed to national team despite upcoming Serbia stint". GMA News. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  19. Li, Matthew (October 2, 2021). "Jack Animam posts double-double in debut, lifts Radnički in PŽLS opener". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  20. Giongco, Mark (December 14, 2021). "Jack Animam ends Serbia stint due to injury". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  21. Leongson, Randolph (January 21, 2022). "Jack Animam embraces process as she starts surgery recovery". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  22. Agcaoili, Lance (October 27, 2022). "While pondering next career step, Jack Animam rejoins Gilas Women". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  23. Clarito, Ariel Ian (January 27, 2023). "Jack Animam signs with French basketball club". Rappler. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  24. Clarito, Ariel Ian (May 5, 2023). "Jack Animam looks to boost new French squad". Rappler. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  25. Li, Matthew (August 1, 2023). "Jack Animam becomes first Filipino import in WCBA". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  26. Li, Matthew (April 29, 2018). "Afril Bernardino headlines Philippine 3×3 World Cup team". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  27. "Philippines (Women) - FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2019". FIBA. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  28. Lintag, Paul Kennedy (March 30, 2020). "A champion for women, Jack Animam wants ideal future for female athletes". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  29. "Thirdy Ravena, Jack Animam to be hailed as PSA Mr. and Ms. Basketball". Tiebreaker Times. February 10, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
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