2021 Letran Knights basketball team

The 2021 Letran Knights men's basketball team represented Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 97th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. The men's basketball tournament for the school year 2021-22 began in the second semester on March 26, 2022, and the host school for the season is De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde.[1]

2021 Letran Knights men's basketball
NCAA Season 97 champions
Record
Elims rank #1
Final rank#1
2021 record12–0 (9–0 elims)
Head coachBonnie Tan (2nd season)
Assistant coachesRensy Bajar
Raymund Tiongco
Alfredo Jarencio II
LA Tenorio
CaptainJeo Ambohot (5th season)

The Knights competed in the NCAA after more than two years since their historic championship run in 2019, and since the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

The Knights, the Season 95 champions, started the season by winning against season's hosts CSB Blazers in a game played via bubble setting.[2] They swept the single round-robin eliminations, finishing at first place with 9 wins against no losses.[3]

The Knights then survive the gritty fourth-seeded UPHSD Altas in the Final Four and made it back to the NCAA men's basketball Finals.[4] The last time Letran made back-to-back Finals was in 2012 to 2013 seasons.[5]

The Knights went on to defeat the Mapúa Cardinals in two games to capture their 19th championship, clinching their first back-to-back titles since winning in 1998 & 1999 seasons, and sweeping the whole tournament since 1984.[6] Team captain Jeo Ambohot was named Finals Most Valuable Player, Mythical Five member, and All-Defensive team member,[7] while Rhenz Abando bagged Season Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and was also named in the Mythical Five.[7]

Roster

Letran Knights roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Year High School
SG 10 Philippines Abando, Rhenz Joseph M. 6'2" (1.88m) 1st Bactad East National High School
PF 18 Philippines Ambohot, Jeo R. (C) 6'8" (2.03m) 5th Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines
SF 17 Philippines Ariar, Kint Devone I. 6'3" (1.91m) 1st Saint Dominic Savio Learning Center
SG 27 Philippines Caralipio, King Deniell M. 6'3" (1.91m) 4th San Pedro High School
PF 12 Philippines Fajarito, Christian A. 6'7" (2.01m) 4th FEU Diliman
PF 35 Philippines Guarino, Neil Andrey A. 6'6" (1.98m) 2nd Colegio de San Juan de Letran
C 9 Philippines Javillonar, Marc Paolo J. 6'7" (2.01m) 2nd Nazareth School of National University
C 15 Philippines Lantaya, Jimly 6'10" (2.08m) 1st Nazareth School of National University
SG 23 Philippines Mina, Allen Andrew R. 6'3" (1.91m) 2nd Nazareth School of National University
PG 6 Philippines Olivario, Tommy York G. 5'9" (1.75m) 4th Colegio de San Juan de Letran
SG 38 Philippines Paraiso, Brent Isaac P. 6'3" (1.91m) 1st De La Salle Santiago Zobel School
PG 8 Philippines Reyson, Kurt Spencer E. 5'10" (1.78m) 2nd Colegio de San Juan de Letran
PF 5 Philippines Sangalang, Mark Louie 6'6" (1.98m) 3rd Academy of Queen Mary School Inc.
SG 7 Philippines Tolentino, Kyle Dominic P. 6'3" (1.91m) 1st Colegio de San Juan de Letran
PG 3 Philippines Yu, Fran Louie Y. 5'10" (1.78m) 3rd Chiang Kai Shek College
PF Reserve Philippines Bañez, Shamasneh B. 6'5" (1.96m) – Chiang Kai Shek College
SF Reserve Philippines Go, Rafael S. 6'5" (1.96m) – Chiang Kai Shek College
PG Reserve Philippines Mailim, Jeffy P. 5'10" (1.78m) – Nazareth School of National University
Head coach
  • Bonnie Tan
Assistant coach(es)
  • Raymund Tiongco
  • Rensy Bajar
  • Alfredo Jarencio II
  • LA Tenorio
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • Emilio Rafael Avenido
Team manager
  • Waiyip Chong
  • Eric Ang
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Ambohot Javillonar Lantaya
PF Sangalang Fajarito Guarino
SF Mina Caralipio Ariar
SG Paraiso Abando Tolentino
PG Yu Olivario Reyson

Roster changes

The Knights lost five of its key players from the 2019 championship team.[8] Jerrick Balanza, Larry Muyang, Edson Batiller, and Christian Balagasay were drafted last 2019 in the Philippine Basketball Association,[9] while Ato Ular is now playing in FilBasket as a pro.[10]

Christian Fajarito, who last played for Letran in 2018,[11] returned in the roster.[8] The Knights also welcomed its two blue chip transferees from the University of Santo Tomas, Rhenz Abando and Brent Paraiso.[12]

Suspensions
  • Letran big man Louie Sangalang served a one-game suspension after he was slapped with a disqualifying foul for throwing the ball to the face of Mapúa Cardinals counterpart Warren Bonifacio during their matchup in the elimination round.

Injuries
  • Letran star Rhenz Abando suffered a left ankle sprain after a putback dunk that led to a bad fall during their Finals Game 1 matchup against the Mapúa Cardinals. He played the following game and led his team to a championship.

NCAA Season 97 games results
Further information: NCAA Season 97 basketball tournaments

Elimination games are played in a single round-robin format. All games are aired on GTV and GMA Pinoy TV, and streamed online live via the NCAA Philippines website, NCAA Philippines Facebook page and YouTube channel, and GMA Sports’ Facebook and Twitter pages.[13]

Date Time Opponent Venue Result Record
Elimination round
Mar 26 3:30 p.m. Benilde Blazers St. Benilde Gym–LSGH • Mandaluyong W 67–63 1–0
Game Highs: Points: Abando – 19; Rebounds: Sangalang – 13; Assists: Abando – 3
Mar 30 12:00 p.m. Arellano Chiefs St. Benilde Gym–LSGH • Mandaluyong W 96–67 2–0
Game Highs: Points: Ambohot – 20; Rebounds: Sangalang – 10; Assists: Olivario – 7
Apr 3 12:00 p.m. Perpetual Altas St. Benilde Gym–LSGH • Mandaluyong W 68–57 3–0
Game Highs: Points: Abando – 24; Rebounds: Ambohot, Fajarito – 11; Assists: Abando, Yu – 4
Apr 8 12:00 p.m. Mapúa Cardinals St. Benilde Gym–LSGH • Mandaluyong W 80–60 4–0
Game Highs: Points: Ambohot – 16; Rebounds: Ambohot – 12; Assists: 3 players – 4 each
Apr 17 3:00 p.m. Lyceum Pirates St. Benilde Gym–LSGH • Mandaluyong W 80–77 5–0
Game Highs: Points: Abando – 14; Rebounds: Ambohot – 13; Assists: Yu – 7
Apr 20 3:00 p.m. EAC Generals St. Benilde Gym–LSGH • Mandaluyong W 83–62 6–0
Game Highs: Points: Paraiso, Reyson – 15; Rebounds: Sangalang – 7; Assists: 4 players – 4 each
Apr 23 3:00 p.m. JRU Heavy Bombers St. Benilde Gym–LSGH • Mandaluyong W 81–59 7–0
Game Highs: Points: Ambohot – 14; Rebounds: Ambohot – 12; Assists: Reyson – 7
Apr 26 3:00 p.m. San Sebastian Stags St. Benilde Gym–LSGH • Mandaluyong W 73–69 8–0
Game Highs: Points: Abando – 18; Rebounds: Abando – 9; Assists: Olivario – 4
Apr 29 3:00 p.m. San Beda Red Lions Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan W 59–56 9–0
Game Highs: Points: Sangalang – 12; Rebounds: Ambohot – 13; Assists: Yu – 5
1st place after the eliminations (9 wins–0 losses)
Final Four[lower-alpha 1]
May 8 12:00 p.m. Perpetual Altas Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan W 77–75 10–0
Game Highs: Points: Abando – 24; Rebounds: Ambohot – 14; Assists: Reyson, Yu – 3
Letran wins series in one game
Finals
May 15 3:00 p.m. Mapúa Cardinals Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan W 68–63 11–0
Game Highs: Points: Paraiso, Sangalang – 14; Rebounds: Ambohot – 13; Assists: Paraiso, Yu – 5
May 22 3:00 p.m. Mapúa Cardinals Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan W 75–65 12–0
Game Highs: Points: Abando – 14; Rebounds: Sangalang – 13; Assists: Yu – 5
Knights clinched 19th NCAA championship

Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

Source: Pong Ducanes, Imperium Technology
Notes:
  1. Letran held a twice-to-beat advantage over UPHSD

Awards
Player Award
Rhenz Abando NCAA Season Most Valuable Player
NCAA Rookie of the Year
NCAA Mythical Five member
Jeo Ambohot NCAA Finals Most Valuable Player
NCAA All-Defensive Team
NCAA Mythical Five member

References
  1. Leongson, Randolph (January 14, 2022). "NCAA driven to start Season 97 by March". SPIN.ph. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  2. Magallon, Reynald (March 26, 2022). "Abando shines in debut as Letran frustrates Benilde". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  3. Dalupang, Denison Rey (April 29, 2022). "NCAA: Letran sweeps elimination round, escapes rival San Beda". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  4. Navarro, June (May 8, 2022). "Letran back in NCAA Finals, holds off Perpetual". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  5. Naredo, Camille (May 8, 2022). "NCAA: Letran survives Perpetual to book Finals berth". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  6. "Letran sweeps Mapua for back-to-back NCAA crowns". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  7. Li, Matthew (May 23, 2022). "Rhenz Abando becomes 11th Letran Knight crowned NCAA MVP". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  8. Micaller, Bea (March 26, 2022). "NCAA Season 97 preview: Letran eyes title defense with reinforced roster". GMA Network. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  9. Dioquino, Delfin (December 8, 2019). "Columbian nabs Isaac Go as No. 1 pick in PBA Draft 2019". Rappler. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  10. Li, Matthew (March 18, 2022). "MPBL rivals San Juan, Davao Occi go separate ways as Filbasket, PSL begin". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  11. Aquino, Alyssa (July 4, 2019). "Christian Fajarito to skip NCAA S95, set to suit-up for Zamboanga In MPBL". The LANCE. Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  12. Isaga, JR (September 7, 2020). "Ex-Tigers Abando, Paraiso, Bataller complete transfer to Letran". Rappler. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  13. "NCAA Season 97 officially kicks off this March 26 on GMA". Manila Bulletin. March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.


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