Ilongga Pingol receives Gilas Pilipinas Women call-up for SEA Games

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Ilongga hoops superstar Karl Ann Pingol is ready to embrace the international limelight after being named an official pool member of the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s national basketball team for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Bangkok, Thailand.

The pride of Pototan, Iloilo, completed Gilas’ reinforcement roster, which is looking to embark on a redemption tour after settling for the silver medal two years ago in the SEA Games edition in Cambodia.

The newly crowned UAAP women’s basketball Most Valuable Player (MVP) is coming off a momentum-boosting Game 1 victory in the grand finals, leading National University to a 1-0 lead over the University of Santo Tomas.

Already a part of Gilas’ previous FIBA rosters that competed overseas, Pingol isn’t a stranger to the international basketball scene.

Pingol’s inclusion in the SEA Games lineup was a no-brainer for head coach Pat Aquino after steering the Lady Bulldogs to a majestic season, including a chance to repeat on the UAAP stage.

The steady frontcourt presence dropped back-to-back triple-doubles to boost her MVP trophy—one against Adamson and the other against De La Salle University.

Pingol wrapped up NU’s massive win over Adamson with an all-around brilliance of 17 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and two blocks. In the one-sided affair against the Lady Archers, she recorded 12 markers, 11 boards and 11 dimes.

From sharing the court as rivals, Pingol will now be teaming up with her UAAP co-stars Kacey Dela Rosa, Trina Guytingco, Sarah Heyn, Monique Del Carmen and Louna Ozar.

Steering the ship for the 2025 SEA Games Gilas roster are national team mainstays Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Khate Castillo and Chack Cabinbin.