Gilas Women's Jack Animam. File photo from FIBA
MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas Women mainstay Jack Animam will lead the squad in the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico next week.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) released the 12-woman team roster on its official social media pages on Friday.
Animam is making her return to the national women's basketball team for the first time since the FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China in July 2025.
The veteran center helped Gilas Women finish sixth in the tournament and retain their status in Division A.
Joining Animam will be US NCAA Division I standout Vanessa De Jesus and two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Kacey Dela Rosa.
Veterans Kent Pastrana, Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Jhazmin Joson and Angel Surada are likewise part of the 12-woman lineup.
Also included in the roster are Louna Ozar, Sophia Dignadice, Monique Del Carmen and Alyssa Rodriguez.
The tournament will mark the first test for new Gilas Women head coach BT Toews.
"It would be great to win the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Mexico, but that's going to be a huge hurdle for us. It would be, I think, world news if it happened," Toews said on Thursday.
"But you know, you've got Canada in there. But there are teams in our pool that are definitely beatable. And so that's what we focus on. And the first game is against the hosts," he added.
Gilas Women will leave on August 9 for training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada before they head to Mexico for the tournament set from August 17 to 23.
"I think they're super excited. I think the practices are probably different than they're used to. I feel like a lot of players are sore, which is always a good thing," Toews said.
Gilas Women are in Group B with hosts Mexico, Canada, and Senegal.
Top two teams from each group will advance to the crossover semifinals, with only the champion securing a spot in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.