Jack Animam remains committed to national team despite upcoming Serbia stint

Jack Animam may be kicking her budding career into high gear, but the ever-cheerful Filipina baller declared that she will want to continue to represent the Philippine flag on the international stage.

The 22-year-old bruiser on Tuesday announced that she's off to Europe, where she will suit up for the Radnicki Kragujevac, a club seeing action in the First Women's Basketball League of Serbia.

Animam is scheduled to take the flight for Serbia on Friday and questions about her availability for the national team, which she steered to a couple of feats the past years, came to light.

The 6-foot-5 center did not say anything with finality but just stressed that she's hoping the European schedule will favor that of the calendar of FIBA events in order for her to still power the nationals.

"First of all, my heart and passion are always with the national team, coach Pat [Aquino], and the SBP [Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas]," Animam said during a media availability with handler East West Private.

"I’m very hopeful, based on previous history pre-COVID-19, that the European schedule is favorable to the FIBA events."

The Filipinas will compete in the 2021 FIBA Women's Asia Cup slated from September 27 to October 4 in Ammam, Jordan and had plans to do the same in the Vietnam Southeast Asian (SEA) Games before the biennial meet was postponed to next year due to the pandemic.

Animam, who was a key cog in the country's double medal finish in the 2019 SEA Games' 5-on-5 and 3x3 basketball tourneys, said she will respect whatever her new Serbian club will decide pertaining to her national team stint.

To note, Patty Scott, the CEO of EWP, bared that Animam's contract will run through March 2022.

But whatever happens, Animam asserted her heart will always belong to the Philippines.

"However, with my current team, I respect their decision for whatever is the best for the team. But I’m still really open to playing for the national team."

—JMB, GMA News