PROMISE delivered.
Jack Animam made true to her word of keeping the Philippines in the Division A in the 2019 Fiba Women's Asia Cup.
"Syempre sobrang saya," she said. "Bago kami umalis, sinabi ko na iki-keep namin yung Division A status namin. Pag bumaba tayo sa Division B, two years na naman yung hihintayin mo bago ka makaakyat kaya sinabi talaga namin na kailangan ma-keep yung status natin."
It was a grueling path for Gilas Pilipinas Womens in Pool B of the competitions, suffering routs to Australia, China, and New Zealand.
But the Filipinas made sure to play at their best when it mattered the most, silencing hosts India, 92-78, in the battle for seventh place.
As proud as Animam was, she thinks that improvements should be on the table moving forward, that participation isn't just enough and the Philippines must do its best to compete in the next staging of the events.
"Nandoon na tayo eh, it's just that malalaki sila. Sobrang laking factor talaga na matatangkad sila. Tapos may pro leagues pa sila na nandoon yung best of the best nila. So kailangan pa natin i-step up yung level of competition namin," she said.
"Kailangan lang ng more exposure at more time together ng team. One day, nandoon na rin tayo sa level nila."
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