Gilas Jack Animam to play in Europe after signing with Romania’s BC ICIM Arad
FILIPINA trailblazer Jack Animam is off to Europe once again, this time in Romania after signing with BC ICIM Arad.
A nine-time champion, the Romanian club plays in the top-tier league Liga Nationala with hopes of snapping a long title drought since its last championship in 2013.
For the Gilas Pilipinas standout Ms. Animam, this is another stop to her historic international career as the first Filipina player ever to play in Europe with a Serbian club in 2021.
The 25-year-old ace also had stints in France, China and Australia before focusing on the Nationals’ campaign this year and a European return right after.
Ms. Animam, a five-time UAAP champion and Most Valuable Player who has long been the anchor of Gilas women, led the Philippines to a fourth-place finish in the Women’s Jones Cup and the championship in the first-ever Pinoyliga women’s tourney.
The Bulacan native also impressed in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifiers last week in Rwanda despite the early exit of Gilas women with averages of 13.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 2.0 blocks.
A two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, Ms. Animam is tipped to stamp the same class in Romania to fly the flag higher for Filipina ballers. — John Bryan Ulanday
