Gilas Women captain Jack Animam signs with Japan’s Denso Iris in B.League move

Jack Animam is set for another milestone in her storied basketball journey. After carving her path across Europe, Asia, and Australia, the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s skipper has now taken her talents to Japan, officially joining Denso Iris in the Women’s Japan Basketball League (WJBL) for the 2025–2026 season.

The 6-foot-5 center’s signing was unveiled Wednesday morning (Philippine time) through Denso Iris’ official social media channels, later confirmed by her agency, Titus Sports, a WNBA and NBA-certified group that manages her career overseas.

“Looking forward to playing for Denso Iris! Thank you for your support. I can’t wait to play for you and meet all of you at the games. I hope you continue to support us all the way. I’m excited to play for Denso Iris,” Animam expressed in the team’s announcement.

Animam arrives in Japan fresh off a productive campaign in Romania, where she powered FCC UAV Arad to a podium finish in the Liga Națională. 

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Gilas Pilipinas Women veteran Jack Animam will be powering up Denso Iris, a team in the top division of the Women’s Japan Basketball League.

READ: https://t.co/905pPl1xam pic.twitter.com/3mo6m3OGxr

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) September 17, 2025

With five UAAP championships under her belt from her NU Lady Bulldogs days, the versatile big now brings her wealth of international experience to a Denso side still searching for its breakthrough title in the WJBL.

Her move marks the sixth stop of her professional career abroad, having previously suited up in Serbia, France, China, Australia, and Romania. Beyond club play, Animam has also been a consistent cornerstone for the national team. 

She averaged a double-double of 10.4 points and 10 rebounds during the Philippines’ strong showing at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, where Gilas Women placed sixth — their best finish in recent memory.

From bagging Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 and an MVP plum in 2017 with NU, to multiple SEA Games medals and a SEABA crown, Animam’s career continues to break barriers for Philippine women’s basketball. 

Now, with Denso Iris, she is set to take on a new challenge — this time in one of Asia’s toughest women’s basketball leagues.

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