Gilas star Jack Animam slams SEAG rule on basketball imports
Published May 7, 2023 12:51 pm
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Jack Animam aired her sentiments on fielding an all-naturalized team particularly in basketball 3x3 on Sunday, May 7, in the Southeast Asian Games.
*Jack Animam*
Animam questioned the essence of the biennial meet with this rule following the presence of import-laden Cambodian squads in both men’s and women’s events. “I think if there’s gonna be a lot of imports like this, I don’t think the essence of SEA Games is gonna be there,” said Animam. “I mean, para saan pa doing this SEA Games if we’re not fielding our own homegrown talent.” Animam and her teammates Janine Pontejos, Mikka Cacho and Afril Bernardino squeaked past the Cambodian team composed of Brittany Dinkins, Kimberly Hanlon, Mariah Cooks and Meighan Simmons in the semifinals, 21-20, but lost the gold medal to Vietnam, 21-16. The Gilas men’s 3x3 squad of Almond Vosotros, Joseph Sedurifa, Joseph Eriobu and Lervin Flores also fell short of winning the gold medal after bowing to the Cambodians composed of naturalized players Darrin Dorsey, Brandon Peterson and Sayeed Pridgett, and local bet Tep Chhorath, 20-15. “For me, SEA Games is to show your talent na meron kayo sa bansa, and if you're just getting from other countries, I think parang pro league na ito eh,” Animam said. Still, Animam is proud of their performance especially against the Cambodians. “Masaya kami kasi kahit naturalized from the US yung mga nakalaban namin, we played our game and stick to the game plan that coach Pat (Aquino) told us,” she said.
*Jack Animam*
Animam questioned the essence of the biennial meet with this rule following the presence of import-laden Cambodian squads in both men’s and women’s events. “I think if there’s gonna be a lot of imports like this, I don’t think the essence of SEA Games is gonna be there,” said Animam. “I mean, para saan pa doing this SEA Games if we’re not fielding our own homegrown talent.” Animam and her teammates Janine Pontejos, Mikka Cacho and Afril Bernardino squeaked past the Cambodian team composed of Brittany Dinkins, Kimberly Hanlon, Mariah Cooks and Meighan Simmons in the semifinals, 21-20, but lost the gold medal to Vietnam, 21-16. The Gilas men’s 3x3 squad of Almond Vosotros, Joseph Sedurifa, Joseph Eriobu and Lervin Flores also fell short of winning the gold medal after bowing to the Cambodians composed of naturalized players Darrin Dorsey, Brandon Peterson and Sayeed Pridgett, and local bet Tep Chhorath, 20-15. “For me, SEA Games is to show your talent na meron kayo sa bansa, and if you're just getting from other countries, I think parang pro league na ito eh,” Animam said. Still, Animam is proud of their performance especially against the Cambodians. “Masaya kami kasi kahit naturalized from the US yung mga nakalaban namin, we played our game and stick to the game plan that coach Pat (Aquino) told us,” she said.