Jack Animam

A native of Malolos, Bulacan, Jack Animam was born to Ayo Jackson Animam and Erlinda Santo Tomas. Her mother was an Overseas Filipino Worker.[3]

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.[4]

Animam studied at the National University in Manila for her collegiate studies.[2] She entered Shih Hsin University in Taiwan in 2020 to earn a master's degree in advertising as a student-athlete.[5]

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 Bulldogs senior pool, since they don't have a girls' junior program.[4] She became a key player for the NU Bulldogs playing for the team for six years.[6] 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.[7]

In 2019, the Shih Hsin University offered her to play for their team which competes in Taiwan's University Basketball Association.[2] Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved to Taiwan in October 2020[8] and made her debut for the college team in November 16, 2020.[5]

Animam has represented the Philippines, being the youngest Filipino player at the 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship at age 16.[3] 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.[3]

Animam is also part of the national 3x3 team which competed for the Philippines at the 2018 FIBA 3x3 World Cup[9] and the 2019 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup.[10]

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.[4][11]

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 player to be given the recognition.[12]