JACK Animam promptly proved she was good as advertised in her debut in Serbia.
Animam steered Radnicki Kragujevac to a nail-biting 78-77 victory over Proleter 023 last Saturday in the 2021-22 First Women’s Basketball League at the SBB Hala Jezero.
The 6-foot-5 Animam shone with 20 points, including a clutch basket, to go with 14 rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and one assist.
Animam’s putback off an Andrea Glomazic missed layup gave Radnicki a 76-71 lead, only 27 ticks left.
Animam said she is out to show her worth as the first homegrown Filipina player to suit up in Europe.
“Pride na lang talaga iyon. Gusto kong ipakita na kaya natin makipagsabayan dahil tayong mga Pilipino, hindi basta-basta sumusuko,” Animam was quoted as saying by online sports website Spin.ph.
“Sobrang kinakabahan talaga ako. Hindi ko alam iyong mararamdaman ko, halo halo na iyong kaba at excitement dito sa panibagong chapter,” she added.
A former National University standout and Gilas Pilipinas women mainstay, Animam was signed by Radnicki Kragujevac last August.
Animam bagged the UAAP women’s basketball MVP plum in 2017 and won a gold with the Gilas women squad in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila in 2019
A Malolos, Bulacan native, Animam led Shih Hsin University to the University Basketball Association crown, and in the United States in the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League.
Animam is convinced she could only get better after committing three turnovers in and making just 4-of-9 of her free throws.
“Laban na lang talaga. Kaya ang sarap sa pakiramdam na maganda ang naipakita ko dito sa first game ko,” she said. “Iyong yung mga i-need ko pa i-perfect sa practice (free throw shooting). Gagalingan ko pa lalo sa mga susunod naming game.”
Radnicki clashes with defending champion Crvena Zvezda on Saturday at home.
