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Former NU Lady Bulldogs stalwart Jack Animam. PHOTO UAAP
MANILA, Philippines – National Pat Aquino University’s legendary Lady Bulldogs program defined the greatest college basketball dynasty of this generation when they won six straight UAAP titles and lost exactly zero games in the process.
In the midst of that legendary run is an equally gifted hub at Jack Danielle Animam.
Animam, a vocal presence on and off the court, said NU did play an important role in the development of the women’s game, leading to the domino effect that led to the National Women’s Basketball League receiving professional status from the Board. of Games and Entertainment.
“NU played a huge role because of the noise it made because for so many years the team never lost and was the champion every season,” Animam said in Filipino during a Zoom interview with Inquirer on Thursday.
“It was during this NU run that people started to realize that this is what women’s basketball is like, it’s just not getting enough recognition.”
The rise to power of the Lady Bulldogs was so influential that the cornerstone of the Gilas Pilipinas women’s team was essentially NU.
Animam, however, was not just for college play as it transitioned its talents to the international stage and helped lead the Philippines to an impressive final double gold at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Whether on the 3 × 3 half court or the traditional 5 × 5, the Philippines conquered the region and Animam said it was this achievement that ultimately marked the women’s basketball scene in the general consciousness.
“The SEA Games had a huge impact, for me, because this was our first gold medal in the sport,” Animam said of the victory that ended the Malaysian-Thai duopoly in the discipline.
“It really showed that the Philippines have the talent not only to compete but to win. So the SEA Games really made a huge impact. “
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