Gilas Pilipinas head coach Pat Aquino was just glad to see Jack Animam flourish in her stint as an import in the ongoing 2021-22 season of the First Women's Basketball League in Serbia.
Although Animam has only played two games for her team Radnicki, the Filipina already impressed with stellar numbers. She unloaded a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds on her debut before following it up with a monster game of 29 points, 12 boards and six assists in her second appearance and against the league titlist Crvena zvezda.
Aquino bared that he didn’t expect Animam’s performance in her first two games but the veteran mentor was not surprised that his former ward is capable of doing such showing.
“Amazing, what she’s doing I didn't expect na from the start, magiging ganun agad yung laro niya but si Jack yun eh, that's Jack na alam mo naman kung paano maglaro, talagang todo lagi,” said Aquino.
“I’m just happy for her and just keep it up what she’s doing right now.”
Being Animam’s coach in college and in the national team, Aquino was also quick to remind the 6’5 forward to not settle with her current performance and always find ways to improve.
“Pag tumatawag nga siya di ko siya kinocongratulate, pinapagalitan ko pa. Sabi ko do more. Don’t expect na maging satisified ka sa game mo, learn from it and do more. Things you could flourish and level up more,” he furthered.
But there was no doubt in Aquino’s mind that Animam will be a force to reckon with when she rejoins the national team after her Serbia stint.
“It's very big. Big na nga siya big pa yung nilalaro niya. ‘Yung experience nya na nakukuha ngayon will bring in for the likes of Clare Castro, ‘yung mga bago natin sina Karl Ann Pingol and those others na gusto pa bumalik.”