Letran Squires | |
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University | Colegio de San Juan de Letran |
Founded | 1924 |
History | Letran Squires (1928–present) |
Head coach | Willie Miller (1st season) |
Location | Intramuros, Manila |
Nickname | Squires |
Colors | Blue and Red |
NCAA Champion | |
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The Letran Squires basketball is the high school boys' basketball program of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. The Squires have won 14 championships since joining the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
After Letran joined the NCAA in 1924, they have won its first NCAA crown in 1928, then known as the midget basketball championship. Letran then retained the crown in 1929 and in 1930. It was Letran's first Grand Slam. It again won in 1932, now the regular junior basketball championship. [1]
In 1948 season, Letran capped its 5th juniors basketball title under head coach Angel de Leon. Nine years later, in 1957 they have captured their 6th title under head coach Luis Tabuena and the team was bannered by Miguel de la Concepcion. [1]
Letran would not win a juniors title again until 1975 which was bannered by Richard Young. [1]
In 1979, the Squires, bannered by Terry Saldaña and mentored under head coach Larry Albano, won its 8th juniors title and at the same time Letran won its very first double championship together with their seniors' counterpart. Another double championship celebration was held when the Squires won its 9th title in 1983 under head coach Freddie Reyes and bannered by Gene Afable and Gido Babilonia.
Letran Squires 1979–80 NCAA Juniors Basketball Champions |
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Terry Saldaña · Jerry Palma · Carlito Mamangon · Robert Villalon · Peter Serrano · Willy Del Castillo · Samuel Sison · Jerry Gonzalez · Joselito Navales · Jojo Cuison · Enrico Cruz · Dennis Lee · Rolando Manhilot |
Head coach: Larry Albano |
In 1984, however, they have failed to defend their title as they have lost to Trinity College Baby Stallions. The team was bannered by Babilonia and Alfrancis Chua. In 1985, Babilonia and Chua successfully reclaimed the championship for the Squires before they transferred to UST to play college basketball for the Glowing Goldies. [2] In 1990, under head coach Mollet Pineda, the Squires have captured another juniors title after five years. The team was bannered by Chris Cantonjos. The following year, Letran returned its juniors championship trophy after a player was found to be ineligible. [3]
Letran Squires 1983–84 NCAA Juniors Basketball Champions |
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Marlon Bolabola · Elmer Bolabola · Jun Novela · Gene Afable · Mady Tabora · Glenn Lazarte · Fritz Webb · Gido Babilonia · Joseph Oba · Jojo Cuison · Eric Enad · Fernando Libed · Glenn Holgaza |
Head coach: Fred Reyes |
Letran Squires 1990–91 NCAA Juniors Basketball Champions |
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Francis Arabit · Long David · Danny Salamat · Jess Pangilinan · Raymond Novela · Chris Cantonjos · Vimbie Avila · Jeff Quiamco · Paul Guerrero · Danny Almendra · Rudolph Santos · Gian Paulo Evidente · Alvin Magpantay |
Head coach: Mollet Pineda |
The Squires once again would not win a juniors title. In 2000 season, they swept the eliminations, clinching a 14-0 sweep, only to be frustrated in two games by 2nd-seed Mapua Red Robins in the Finals. [4]
In 2001, bannered by Jay-R Reyes and JC Intal, successfully captured the NCAA juniors championship by beating the San Beda Red Cubs in three games. Leland Ronquillo won Finals MVP honors. [4]
Letran Squires 2001–02 NCAA Juniors Basketball Champions |
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Edward Anguista · Mark Balneg · Rico Carino · OJ Cua · Dax Dacanay · Argie De Rama · Rey Guevarra · JC Intal · Brian Javier · RJ Jazul · Juanito Quiamco III · Jay-R Reyes · Leland Ronquillo · Joseph Samson |
Head coach: Jing Ruiz |
In 2002, Squires stars Jay-R Reyes and JC Intal decided to pursue their college basketball careers in the UAAP. Reyes went to UP, while Intal joined Ateneo. The Squires managed to go back in the Finals, but they were beaten in two games by last year's runner-ups San Beda Red Cubs.
In 2003, the Squires finished at 2nd place in standings, but got eliminated by the third-seed Mapua Red Robins in the stepladder semi-finals. The team was bannered by Jeff Morial and Lucas Tagarda.
In 2004, the Squires successfully barged into the Finals. However, they were beaten by the San Beda Red Cubs in three games. [5] [6]
In 2005, the Squires finished 3rd place in the elimination rounds with 8 wins and 4 losses. However, a protest filed by San Beda forced them to forfeit all of their games and disqualified to compete in the Final Four after third-year point guard Lester Alvarez was found out having played in an inter-city league while the tournament is on going. [7] The following season, they would finished winless.
When the Philippines was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the NCAA Management Committee decided to suspend the 95th season to an indefinite halt. [8] The following season, no contact sports, including basketball and volleyball, were held. [9]
The juniors basketball tournament returned in February 2023. The Letran Squires finally ended their 22-year championship drought by beating LSGH in two games. Squires star Andy Gemao was awarded Finals MVP and Mythical Five, while big man George Diamante clinched Defensive Player of the Year plum and was included in the All-Defensive Team. With the win, Letran achieved a rare double championship together with the Knights since 1983. [10] After the season, Gemao decided to leave Letran to pursue his basketball career in the United States. [11]
In 2024, the Squires successfully defended their title by beating Perpetual in three games. Moses Manalili bagged the Finals MVP award, while George Diamante once again clinched another Defensive Player of the Year award and All-Defensive Team. After the tournament, head coach Allen Ricardo was named the interim coach of the Letran Knights. [12] Two months later, Ricardo was officially named head coach of the Knights, while former PBA player and alumnus Willie Miller was tasked to mentor the Squires. [13]
Letran Squires 2022–23 NCAA Juniors Basketball Champions |
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Arwin Alforque · Emmanuel Anabo · Jovel Baliling · Ian Cuajao · Nurjadden Datumalin · George Diamante · Charles Dural · Andy Gemao · Justine Hugo · Moses Manalili · Paolo Moreno · Jolo Navarro · Daniel Padilla · Dwayne Paguio · Jhazel Paguligan · Sebastian Reyes · Timothy Reyes · Syrex Silorio |
Head coach: Allen Ricardo |
Letran Squires 2023–24 NCAA Juniors Basketball Champions |
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Arwin Alforque · Jovel Baliling · Timothy Cruz · Jashlie De Leon · Jhuniel Dela Rama · George Diamante · Alex Gazzingan · Thirdie Golez · Justine Hugo · Moses Manalili · Jolo Navarro · Daniel Padilla · Dwayne Paguio · Daniel Quijada · Adrian Quiñones · Sebastian Reyes · Syrex Silorio · Ricardo Sumagang · Rex Villanueva |
Head coach: Allen Ricardo |
Champion | Runner-up | Third place |
Year | Overall standings | Playoffs result | Coach | |||
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Finish | GP | W | L | |||
1928 | Won midgets tournament | |||||
1929 | Won midgets tournament | |||||
1930 | Won midgets tournament | |||||
1932 | Four-way-tie with Ateneo, La Salle, and Institute of Accounts | |||||
1948 | Angel De Leon | |||||
1957 | Luis Tabuena | |||||
1979 | Larry Albano | |||||
1983 | Fred Reyes | |||||
1985 | ||||||
1990 | Won both pennants, automatic won title | Mollet Pineda | ||||
Season | Eliminations | Playoffs | Awards | Head coach | ||||
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Finish | GP | W | L | PCT | ||||
2000 | 1st/8 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 1.000 | Lost Finals (Mapua 0-2) | Ronjay Enrile (Rookie of the Year) | Jing Ruiz |
2001 | 1st/8 | 14 | 12 | 2 | .857 | Won semifinals (Mapua) Won Finals (San Beda 2-1) | Jay-R Reyes (Season MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Mythical Five) JC Intal (Mythical Five) Leland Ronquillo (Finals MVP) | |
2002 | 2nd/8 | 14 | Won Stepladder Round 2 (Mapua 90-78) Lost Finals (San Beda 0-2) | OJ Cua (Season MVP, Mythical Five, Most Improved Player) PJ Walsham (Rookie of the Year) | ||||
2003 | 2nd/8 | 14 | 11 | 3 | .786 | Lost Stepladder Round 2 (Mapua 60-76) | Jeff Morial (Mythical Five) Marlon Bituin (Mythical Five) | Elmer Latonio |
2004 | 2nd/8 | 14 | Won semifinals (PCU 78-68) Lost Finals (San Beda 1-2) | Jeff Morial (Mythical Five) Marlon Bituin (Mythical Five) | ||||
2005 | 8th/8 | 14 | 0 | 12 | .000 | Disqualified | Darell Green (Defensive Player of the Year, Mythical Five) | |
2006 | 8th/8 | 14 | 0 | 12 | .000 | — | Julius Wong (Mythical Five) | |
2007 | 2nd/6 | 10 | 7 | 3 | .700 | Won semifinals (San Beda 86-96,96-92) Lost Finals (San Sebastian 0-2) | JM Noble (Mythical Five) | |
2008 | 2nd/7 | 12 | 9 | 3 | .750 | Won stepladder Round 2 (JRU 94-93) Lost Finals (San Sebastian 0-2) | Jarelan Tampus (Rookie of the Year, Mythical Five) Glenn Khobuntin (Mythical Five) | |
2009 | T-1st/10 | 18 | 17 | 1 | .944 | Won semifinals (San Sebastian 89-84) Lost Finals (San Beda 1-2) | Jarelan Tampus (Mythical Five) Glenn Khobuntin (Mythical Five) | |
2010 | T-4th/9 | 16 | 9 | 7 | .563 | Won 4th/5th-seed playoff (JRU 87-73) Won 4th-seed playoff (LSGH 91-85) Lost semifinals (San Beda 80-92) | Rey Nambatac (Rookie of the Year, Mythical Five) | Monch Gavieres |
2011 | 2nd/10 | 18 | 14 | 4 | .778 | Lost stepladder Round 2 (LSGH 91-101) | Rey Nambatac (Season MVP, Mythical Five) Ivan Villanueva (Mythical Five) Aldrin Serafica (Mythical Five) | |
2012 | T-3rd/10 | 18 | 13 | 5 | .722 | Lost 3rd-seed playoff (LSGH 70-75) Lost semifinals (San Beda 57-61) | Bong Quinto (Season MVP, Rookie of the Year) Rey Nambatac (Mythical Five) | |
2013 | 6th/10 | 18 | 8 | 10 | .444 | — | Junjie Ablan | |
2014 | 3rd/10 | 18 | 13 | 5 | .722 | Lost semifinals (San Beda 64-70) | ||
2015 | 6th/10 | 18 | 6 | 12 | .333 | — | Raymund Tiongco | |
2016 | 6th/10 | 18 | 7 | 11 | .389 | — | ||
2017 | T-3rd/10 | 18 | 11 | 7 | .611 | Lost semifinals (Malayan 80-82) | Raymond Valenzona | |
2018 | 9th/10 | 18 | 4 | 14 | .222 | — | ||
2019 | 7th/10 | 18 | 8 | 10 | .444 | — | Shawn Umali (All-Defensive Team) | |
2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Robert Joseph Guevarra | ||||||
2021 | No juniors basketball tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic | — | ||||||
2023 [lower-alpha 1] | 1st/10 | 9 | 8 | 1 | .889 | Won semifinals (Malayan 83-78) Won Finals (LSGH 2-0) | Andy Gemao (Finals MVP, Mythical Five) George Diamante (Defensive Player of the Year, All-Defensive Team) | Allen Ricardo |
2024 | 2nd/10 | 9 | 7 | 2 | .778 | Won semifinals (San Sebastian 91-77) Won Finals (Perpetual 2-1) | Moses Manalili (Finals MVP) George Diamante (Defensive Player of the Year, All-Defensive Team) | |
2025 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Willie Miller |
Notes:
The NCAA basketball championships are the basketball championships of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). There are two tournaments, usually held at the same time, the seniors' tournament for male collegiate students, and the juniors' tournament for male senior high school students. If a school wins both championships in one season, it said that they have won the "double championship."
The basketball tournaments of National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) 83rd season hosted by Jose Rizal University began on June 23, 2007 at the Araneta Coliseum with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manuel V. Pangilinan as the keynote speaker. All subsequent elimination round games will be held at The Arena in San Juan. The theme of the season is "Soaring High at 83" while the Studio 23 coverage uses the theme "Brotherhood of the ball".
NCAA Season 84 is the 2008–09 season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The basketball tournaments of National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) 84th season hosted by the Mapúa Institute of Technology began on June 28 at the Araneta Coliseum with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando as the keynote speaker. All subsequent elimination round games will be held at Cuneta Astrodome. The theme of the season is "To The Fore at 84".
The basketball tournaments of NCAA Season 85 refers to the basketball events of the Philippine National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s 2009–10 season. This is the first season without the PCU Dolphins who have taken an indefinite leave of absence after several of their juniors' division players were found to have used falsified documents to enter the school. Also, three guest teams will take part in the basketball events with all three eligible to win championships.
The basketball tournaments of NCAA Season 86 refers to the basketball events of the Philippine National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s 2010–11 season.
The NCAA Season 82 basketball tournaments are the tournaments of the Philippines National Collegiate Athletic Association for basketball at the 2006–07 season. The tournaments are divided into two divisions: the Juniors tournament for male high school students, and the Seniors tournament for male college students.
The basketball tournaments of NCAA Season 87 are the Philippines' National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments for basketball in its 2011–12 season. University of Perpetual Help System DALTA hosted the season, starting with an opening ceremony held on July 2, 2011 followed by a triple-header game. Games then are subsequently being held at Filoil Flying V Arena, with men's games on Wednesdays, Fridays and select Monday games aired by Studio 23.
The basketball tournaments of NCAA Season 91 were the Philippines' National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments for the current season. The Mapua Institute of Technology hosted the season, started with an opening ceremony held on June 27, 2015, at the Mall of Asia Arena followed by a double-header. Games are expected to be followed at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan, with two seniors and juniors games. The men's games are aired live by ABS-CBN Sports and Action and in High Definition on Balls HD 167.
The 2016 basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines), otherwise known as NCAA Season 92, officially opened on June 25, 2016 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay. The showdown between season hosts San Beda Red Lions and season 91 men's basketball champions Letran Knights will be the first game, while JRU Heavy Bombers will face Mapua Cardinals in the second game.
The NCAA Season 80 basketball tournaments are the postseason tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for basketball at the 2004–05 season. The tournaments are divided into two divisions: the Juniors tournament for male high school students and the Men's tournament for male college students.
The NCAA Season 95 basketball tournaments are the 95th basketball season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). Arellano University are the season hosts. Separate men's and juniors' tournaments are held for male college and senior high school students, respectively.
The Letran Knights basketball is the collegiate men’s basketball program of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. The Knights have won 20 championships since joining the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is the second winningest team in the NCAA, just behind the San Beda Red Lions.
The basketball tournaments of NCAA Season 79 are the Philippines' National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments for basketball in its 2003–2004 season. San Sebastian College – Recoletos hosted the season, starting with an opening ceremony held at the Araneta Coliseum on June 28, 2003, followed by four games. Former Philippine Basketball Association chairman, Shell executive, and San Sebastian alumnus Rey Gamboa graced as the guest of honor. Basketball Association of the Philippines secretary-general Graham Lim served as the season's commissioner. The theme of the season is "NCAA at 79: A Family Through Time." Games then are subsequently held at Rizal Memorial Coliseum and covered by ABS-CBN Sports via Studio 23.
The basketball tournaments of National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) 77th season hosted by the Philippine Christian University began on July 7, 2001, at the Araneta Coliseum with Manila mayor Lito Atienza as the special guest and speaker, followed by the opening ceremonies and a quadruple-header. Games then are subsequently held at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The opening rites and the games were aired live by the Media Conglomerates Inc. over PTV/NBN through the facilities of Silverstar Communications, Inc.
The basketball tournaments of National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) 78th season hosted by San Beda College began on June 29, 2002 at the Araneta Coliseum with Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain as the special guest, followed by the opening ceremonies, a ceremonial toss together with NCAA Policy Board president Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB, and a quadruple-header. Games then are subsequently held at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Mapúa Cardinals basketball program represents Mapúa University (MU) in men's basketball as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (NCAA). The Mapúa Cardinals are one of the three NCAA seniors' basketball teams in Intramuros.
The NCAA Season 98 basketball tournaments are the basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) for its 2022–23 season. Emilio Aguinaldo College hosted the tournaments for the first time.
The NCAA Season 99 basketball tournaments are the basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) for its 2023–24 season. The tournament is being hosted by José Rizal University. There are two tournaments, the men's tournament for male college students, and the juniors' tournament for male senior high school students.
The NCAA Season 100 basketball tournaments are the basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) for its 2024–25 season. The tournament is being hosted by Lyceum of the Philippines University. The opening day was held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on September 7, 2024, while the rest of the elimination round games will be held at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.