The 22-year-old Animam has set another milestone for Philippines women’s basketball as she became the very first homegrown Filipino to play professionally in Europe with Radnički Kragujevac.

Animam and her agents from East West Private announced the development Monday night and disclosed that Her contract to play in Serbia’s top women’s league will run until March 2022.

“I’m really excited for this move because everyday that I’m training, I’m doing it not only for myself but also for the little girls in the Philippines who also wanted to excel in basketball on the international level,” Animam said in an online press briefing.

It is a huge phase for Animam’s decorated career already, who is looking to share her talents with SPD Radnički, who finished eighth among twelve teams last season with a 7-15 record,  once the season starts later this year.

In her ever-young career, this would be her third overseas stint after steering Taiwan’s Shih Hsin University en route to the championship title in the University Basketball Association (UBA), and in the United States with the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League (AEBL).

Animam’s collegiate coach at National University, Pat Aquino, also expressed her excitement to Animam and is hoping that this move paves the way for more Filipina basketball players to pursue their hoop dreams overseas.

“She’s the face of Philippine women’s basketball now. We’re just proud of what she has achieved. Hopefully more (Filipina basketball players) would follow her,” Aquino said.

The Malolos, Bulacan native shared that she is looking forward to improving her skills and knowledge in basketball alongside acing her defensive skills with her new team. 

“There’s so much to learn from the European brand of basketball. We know that Serbia is one of the best basketball countries in the world. I really wanted to learn more about the game, keep improving and push myself to the limit,” the 6-foot-2 center said. 

“I’m more of a defensive player. I’m going to bring it to the team,” she added.