MANILA, Philippines – Jack Danielle Animam and the rest of her Perlas Pilipinas teammates are motivated to shine in their upcoming FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2018 campaign starting Friday, June 8, especially after their exclusion from the 2018 Asian Games delegation. 

“‘Yun nga. Hindi kasama ang women’s basketball sa Asian Games, so siguro ito na ‘yung time namin na ipakita na hindi lang puro men’s, meron ding say ang babae pagdating sa basketball,” expressed Animam. 

(Yeah. Women’s basketball is not included in the Asian Games, so I guess this is the time for us to show that it’s not all about the men’s, but women also have a say when it comes to basketball.) 

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) only plans to send the Gilas cadets who are reinforced by a TNT core and Andray Blatche. The final lineups should be made by the deadline on Sunday, June 10. 

“Kailangan ano ang attention na binibigay nila sa men’s, dapat ganyan din sa mga babae na naglalaro ng basketball,” added the UAAP Season 80 women’s basketball MVP. 

(The women who play basketball should receive equal attention to what people have been giving to the men.) 

The women’s team is seeded last among the 20 participating teams, as Perlas makes it 3×3 debut. 

According to the UAAP women’s 3×3 champion, the team did not make a lot of adjustments from the 5-a-side format, but the players had to condition themselves quickly as they were only informed of their participation last January. 

“Talent, individually nandiyan na. ‘Yung kundisyon ‘yung pinakamahalaga kasi paano ka kikilos, paano mo magawa ang gusto mong gawin kung wala ka sa kundisyon?,” explained Animam. 

“So ‘yun ‘yung mahirap kasi alam namin na sino mauna na mapagod, siya ang matatalo so ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-winorkout namin at ‘yun ‘yung weapon namin para manalo.”

(The individual talent is there. What’s important is that we’re conditioned because how will you move and get to do what you want if you’re not in good condition? So that’s what’s hard because we know that whoever gets tired first ends up losing. That’s why we worked out and this will be our weapon to win.) 

Three-time UAAP MVP Afril Bernardino, Gemma Miranda and Janine Pontejos will join Animam in the national women’s 3×3 team. 

Perlas Pilipinas will open its Pool D campaign against Netherlands on Friday, June 8, 2:50pm at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. (LOOK: FIBA 3X3 World Cup 2018 Philippine team schedule) – Rappler.com