With a powerful second-round charge, Karl Ann Pingol overtook reigning back-to-back winner Kacey Dela Rosa of Ateneo to stand on the brink of becoming NU’s first MVP since Jack Animam in 2017.
Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa was poised for a third consecutive UAAP women’s basketball MVP award early on, leading the race halfway through Season 88.
But Karl Ann Pingol had other plans.
The NU cager delivered a strong closing stretch, amassing 93.571 SPs and overtaking the reigning two-time winner Dela Rosa to claim pole position in the MVP race.
Pingol’s late surge featured standout performances, including back-to-back triple-doubles.
She recorded 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in NU’s 97-67 thrashing of the DLSU Lady Archers on November 2, then followed it up with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in an 86-57 rout of Adamson on November 8.
Her all-round production helped the defending champions claimed the no. 2 seed at 12-2, awaiting the winner of the Ateneo–Adamson knockout game.
With this, Pingol is in line to become the first NU player since Jack Animam in 2017 to cop the league's highest individual accolade.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa’s chances for a historic three-peat slipped as she dropped to second with 91.429 SPs.
Ateneo, who ended up at 8-6 and held the third seed, puts its championship aspirations on the line against the fourth-seeded Adamson in the first game of the stepladder playoffs on Sunday, November 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
UST’s Kent Pastrana occupired the third spot with 86.643 SPs, while NU’s Tin Cayabyab (73.571 SPs) and Angel Surada (71.714 SPs) rounded out the top five.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.