No more promises from Aminam as PH eyes end of 5×5 gold drought

GIlas women stalwart Jack Animam during 3×3 basketball match in the Southeast Asian Games. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Jack Animam has had a history of making promises and fulfilling them.

But amid the Philippines’ gold medal campaign in women’s basketball of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, Animam would rather play it safe and let the game do the talking.

“All I can say right now is that we’re just going to take it one game at a time. We can’t be complacent. We can’t afford to relax,” Animam, who recently vowed and kept her word by delivering the Philippines a gold in 3×3 basketball, said in Filipino on Thursday night.

https://sports.inquirer.net/375889/sea-games-animam-guarantees-gold-for-gilas-pilipinas-women-in-3×3

Still in search of its first SEA Games gold in women’s 5×5, the Philippines got its quest going with a gutsy 63-56 win over Indonesia, which won the bronze in 2017 and silver in 2015.

The 21-year-old Animam played one of the lead roles in the victory with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, 12 rebounds and four blocks while Janine Pontejos topscored with 16 points on top of five steals. Kelli Hayes also shone with 12 points.

https://sports.inquirer.net/377128/sea-games-gilas-women-overcome-indonesia-to-jumpstart-gold-bid

Gilas will be tested again when it takes on back-to-back gold medalist Malaysia on Saturday.

“We have to be prepared because I know Malaysia is gonna come back from their loss to Thailand. As far as I’m concerned, we have to really adjust defensively,” national team coach Pat Aquino said.

The Malaysians took a 70-47 beating at the hands of the Thais on Wednesday.

“Just one game at a time. We’re going to show why women’s basketball is here and we are here to stay.”