Karl Pingol and the rest of the NU Lady Bulldogs weathered a furious fourth-quarter run by the Ateneo Bulldogs, improving to 5-1 in UAAP Season 88 women's basketball.
The NU Lady Bulldogs showed grit and composure to outlast the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 83-79, in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday, October 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The defending champions held off Ateneo’s furious 15-0 fourth-quarter rally to stay on top of the standings with a 5-1 record, while the Blue Eagles dropped to 4-2 after nearly ending NU’s 24-game winning streak over them since 2012.
Karl Pingol led NU’s charge with a season-high 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, and four steals, plus a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line—including three clutch ones in the final seconds. The Lady Bulldogs’ defense proved key once again, forcing crucial turnovers and hitting important free throws down the stretch to protect their title defense.