2023 Letran Knights basketball team

Last updated
2023 Letran Knights men's basketball
Record
Elims rank #9
2023 record2-16
Head coachRensy Bajar (1st season)
Assistant coachesRaymund Tiongco
Lou Gatumbato
Matthew Sia
John Paul Caparas
CaptainKurt Reyson (4th season)
Seasons
  2022
2024 

The 2023 Letran Knights men's basketball team represented Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 99th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. The men's basketball tournament for the school year 2023-24 began on September 24, 2023, and the host school for the season is Jose Rizal University. [1]

Contents

The Knights, the Season 98 champions, began their campaign on September 24, 2023, against the hosts JRU Heavy Bombers in a losing effort. [2]

The four-peat seeking Knights concluded their campaign on a sour note, finished the elimination round at ninth place with 2 wins and 16 losses, the worst record in school history. [3]

Point guard Jay Garupil bagged the inaugural Freshman of the Year award. [4]

Coaching changes

Bonnie Tan formally parted ways with the Knights as he was named as the new head coach of NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA. [5]

Tan was replaced by his deputy, Rensy Bajar, as the new head coach of the Knights. [6]

Joining Bajar on the side lines are Raymund Tiongco, Lou Gatumbato, Matthew Sia, and John Paul Caparas.

Roster changes

The Knights lost five of its key players from the 2022 championship team. Fran Yu, King Caralipio, Brent Paraiso, Louie Sangalang, and Tommy Olivario have used up all their playing years & were drafted in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Former UST Growling Tiger and De La Salle Green Archer guard Deo Cuajao will finally play for the Knights after redshirting for one year. [7]

Among the rookies who will suit up for the Knights are Former UST Tiger Cub James Jumao-as, Paolo Galvez, and Jay Garupil. [8]

Former UST Growling Tiger Ira Bataller, who joined the Knights in 2020, will finally play this season.

Roster

Letran Knights roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightYearHigh School
SF 17 Flag of the Philippines.svg Ariar, Kint Devone I.6'3" (1.91m)3rd Saint Dominic Savio Learning Center
SG 24 Flag of the Philippines.svg Bojorcelo, Josef Enrico6'2" (1.88m)2nd Caybiga High School
PF 23 Flag of the Philippines.svg Brillantes, Ken Randolph6'5" (1.96m)1st University of Santo Tomas
SG 10 Flag of the Philippines.svg Cuajao, Vincent Petdeo D.6'0" (1.83m)1stHoly Cross College of Davao
PG 12 Flag of the Philippines.svg Fajardo, Nicko M.6'0" (1.83m)1st College of the Immaculate Conception
PG 2 Flag of the Philippines.svg Garupil, Jay Stephen6'0" (1.83m)1stAsian College Dumaguete
SF 5 Flag of the Philippines.svg Go, Rafael S.6'4" (1.93m)2nd Chiang Kai Shek College
PF 35 Flag of the Philippines.svg Guarino, Neil Andrey A.6'6" (1.98m)4th Colegio de San Juan de Letran
PF 9 Flag of the Philippines.svg Javillonar, Marc Paolo J.6'6" (1.98m)4th Nazareth School of National University
PG 20 Flag of the Philippines.svg Jumao-as, James6'0" (1.83m)1st University of Santo Tomas
SG 39 Flag of the Philippines.svg Monje, Kobe Bryan6'3" (1.91m)2nd Colegio de San Juan de Letran
PF 1 Flag of the Philippines.svg Nunag, Joseph Jr6'5" (1.96m)1stDela Paz Libutad High School
PG 8 Flag of the Philippines.svg Reyson, Kurt Spencer E.  Cruz Roja.svg  (C)5'10" (1.78m)4th Colegio de San Juan de Letran
PF 4 Flag of the Philippines.svg Santos, Kevin Kyle6'6" (1.98m)2ndSt. Augustine Institute of Pampanga
SG 7 Flag of the Philippines.svg Tolentino, Kyle Dominic P.6'3" (1.91m)3rd Colegio de San Juan de Letran
SG 18 Flag of the Philippines.svg Bautista, Justine6'3" (1.91m)2nd Colegio de San Juan de Letran
PF 0 Flag of the Philippines.svg Bataller, Ira Spencer6'5" (1.96m)1st Arellano University
PG 11 Flag of the Philippines.svg Galvez, Kier Paolo5'10" (1.78m)1stSt. Jerome School of Novaliches
Head coach
  • Rensy Bajar
Assistant coach(es)
  • Raymund Tiongco
  • Lou Gatumbato
  • Matthew Sia
  • John Paul Caparas
Team manager
  • Joey Uy

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Depth chart

Pos.Starting 5Bench 1Bench 2
C JavillonarSantosBrillantes
PF AriarGuarinoGo
SF MonjeTolentinoBojorcelo
SG CuajaoGarupilJumao-as
PG ReysonFajardoNunag

NCAA Season 99 games results

Elimination games were played in a double round-robin format. All games were aired on GMA.

DateTimeOpponentVenueResultRecord
First round of eliminations
Sep 243:00 p.m. JRU Heavy Bombers Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 79–85OT0–1
Game Highs: Points: Reyson – 18; Rebounds: Javillonar – 11; Assists: Fajardo, Reyson – 4 each
Sep 274:00 p.m. Lyceum Pirates Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 69–700–2
Game Highs: Points: Reyson – 17; Rebounds: Go, Santos – 8 each; Assists: Reyson – 6
Oct 110:00 a.m. EAC Generals Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 65–750–3
Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 12; Rebounds: Go – 6; Assists: Reyson – 5
Oct 64:00 p.m. San Beda Red Lions Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 63–680–4
Game Highs: Points: Reyson – 22; Rebounds: Monje – 7; Assists: Ariar – 4
Oct 812:20 p.m. Arellano Chiefs Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 80–870–5
Game Highs: Points: Monje – 18; Rebounds: Monje, Nunag – 11 each; Assists: Reyson – 7
Oct 114:00 p.m. Mapúa Cardinals Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 71–770–6
Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 20; Rebounds: Santos – 11; Assists: Reyson – 6
Oct 1512:20 p.m. Perpetual Altas Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 59–740–7
Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 15; Rebounds: Nunag, Santos – 12 each; Assists: Ariar, Reyson – 3 each
Oct 184:00 p.m. San Sebastian Stags Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan W 86–711–7
Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 14; Rebounds: Santos – 13; Assists: Ariar – 5
Oct 222:40 p.m. Benilde Blazers Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 55–681–8
Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 11; Rebounds: Ariar – 11; Assists: Fajardo – 3
Tenth place at 1 win–8 losses after 1st round
Second round of eliminations
Oct 252:00 p.m. Perpetual Altas Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 61–731–9
Game Highs: Points: Javillonar – 14; Rebounds: Javillonar – 8; Assists: Garupil – 5
Oct 283:00 p.m. Mapúa Cardinals Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 66–691–10
Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 12; Rebounds: Ariar – 8; Assists: Bataller – 5
Nov 31:30 p.m. EAC Generals Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 69–821–11
Game Highs: Points: Monje – 14; Rebounds: Monje, Santos – 7 each; Assists: Cuajao, Reyson – 3 each
Nov 512:00 p.m. Lyceum Pirates Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 79–851–12
Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 24; Rebounds: Santos – 9; Assists: Fajardo, Garupil – 3 each
Nov 81:30 p.m. San Sebastian Stags Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 75–941–13
Game Highs: Points: Garupil – 16; Rebounds: Garupil – 6; Assists: Garupil – 5
Nov 113:00 p.m. JRU Heavy Bombers Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 74–791–14
Game Highs: Points: Monje – 18; Rebounds: Ariar, Garupil, Monje, Santos – 5 each; Assists: Garupil – 11
Nov 141:30 p.m. Arellano Chiefs Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan W 67–582–14
Game Highs: Points: Monje – 13; Rebounds: Garupil – 6; Assists: Garupil – 3
Nov 193:30 p.m. Benilde Blazers Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 54–722–15
Game Highs: Points: Monje – 18; Rebounds: Javillonar, Monje – 9 each; Assists: Bataller – 3
Nov 243:30 p.m. San Beda Red Lions Filoil EcoOil CentreSan Juan L 68–772–16
Game Highs: Points: Monje – 17; Rebounds: Monje – 11; Assists: Garupil – 5
Ninth place after 2nd round (7 wins–2 losses in the 2nd round)

Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

Source: GMA Network

Awards

PlayerAward
Jay GarupilNCAA Freshman of the Year


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References

  1. Isaga, JR (September 21, 2023). "NCAA Season 99 kicks off with expanded calendar, MOA Arena basketball opener". Rappler. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. Isaga, JR (September 24, 2023). "NCAA Season 99 host JRU stuns Letran in OT opening game thriller". Rappler. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  3. Jacinto, Angelo (November 25, 2023). "Rensy Bajar looks back on the worst season in Letran history". SPIN.ph. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  4. Isaga, JR (December 10, 2023). "Mapua prodigal son Clint Escamis cruises to NCAA MVP award". Rappler. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  5. Fuentes, Rommel Jr. (April 23, 2023). "NCAA: Bonnie Tan, Letran part ways after three-peat". Inquirer Sports. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  6. "Letran names Rensy Bajar as new head coach". Manila Bulletin. April 24, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  7. Bergado, Aulyn Gwen (September 25, 2023). "Cuajao Delivers in Anticipated NCAA Debut". The LANCE. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  8. "James Jumao-as, four other rookies join Letran for NCAA Season 99". SPIN.ph. May 20, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.