'We will be better': Jack Animam vows Gilas Women will come back stronger next SEA Games

PHNOM PENH — All eyes were on Gilas Pilipinas Women in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games as the Filipina ballers came in looking for a third straight title.

But that dream hit a major slump when Gilas bowed to Indonesia, 89-68, last May 12 that dimmed their gold medal hopes. Eventually, the Philippines had to settle for silver as the Indonesians swept the competition, 6-0, while the Filipinas ended their campaign with a 5-1 card.

Prior to the Cambodia Games, Gilas Women have been the queens of SEAG basketball, winning both the 2019 and 2021 editions in Manila and Hanoi. And stalwart Jack Animam is determined for the team to come back stronger for the next edition in Thailand in 2025.

"Walang talo, but it's a lesson learned and siguro 'yung takeaway ko dito na people were saying we're the favorites blah, blah, blah. But you know, we still need to focus on what we do," Animam said on Monday after their silver medal-winning game against Malaysia.

"And siguro just stick to the plan and just be ready when the adversity comes kasi 'yung game namin sa Indonesia we were leading pa nung first half but then come second half, nakatira sila ng tres and hindi kami nakaahon."

"We will work on that. Two years from now, we will be better."

("It's a lesson learned and I guess my takeaway was that people were saying we're the favorites, blah, blah blah. But you, know, we still need to focus on what we do... And maybe just stick to the plan and just be ready when the adversity comes because our game against Indonesia, we were leading in the first half but then come second half, they were able to make threes and we weren't able to overcome... We will work on that. Two years from now, we will be better.")

After the SEA Games, Gilas will quickly return to the drawing board as they are set to see action in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup next month, where they will be pitted against Australia, Chinese-Taipei, and Japan.

Animam said they cannot let what happened in Phnom Penh happen again in their next tournaments.

"At times na parang we're lacking energy na parang wala kaming mahugot but we cannot let that happen anymore," she shared.

"Next time dapat alam na namin 'yung dapat naming gawin and ang hirap din kasi, especially dapat we will be the ones to control the game. It's a learning time for us."

(At time, we seemed like we're lacking energy and we didn't have anything to dig deep from, but we cannot let that happen anymore.... Next time, we should know what we have to do. And it's tough, especially, because we need to be the ones to control the game. It's a learning time for us.")

—JMB, GMA Integrated News