Letran Knights

The very first athletic varsity team in Letran began in 1911 when the vice-rector, Rev. Fr. Juan Sanchez, O.P., organized Letran Athletic Club, with the objective of strengthening the solidarity and fraternity among the students and alumni and for the development of the youth by introducing different kinds of sports.[2] The following were named Honorary Presidents: The very Rev. Fr Rector, Calixto Proeto, O.P., Justices Cayetano Arellano and Manuel Araullo and Manila City Engineer Emilio Quisumbing who had previously served as President.

In 1917, the Liga Catolica (the Catholic League), the immediate predecessor of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) among the sectarian schools, was founded and lasted until 1920. The members were Letran, San Beda, Ateneo, De La Salle, San Vicente de Paul, and UST. Football was a major sports event and basketball was also played.[2]

In 1928, Letran formally joined the NCAA, which was founded in 1924. Letran adopted the Knights monicker after its founder, Spanish officer Don Juan Geronimo Guerrero, who was a Knight of Malta.[3] That same year the team’s very first NCAA crown won in the midgets division (now the juniors) of basketball tournament, then retaining the crown in 1929 and 1930.[2]

Letran withdrew from the NCAA in 1933 as a form of protest for the unjust decision of the league management during the Letran-Ateneo basketball game. The team then re-joined the league in 1936.[2]

Since joining the NCAA and the establishment of the NCAA general championship in 1960, Letran has won 9 NCAA general championships in the seniors division, while 8 general championship titles have won in the juniors division.

• Basketball
• Football
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Badminton
• Table Tennis
• Track and Field
• Taekwondo
• Chess
• Swimming

Letran was one of the institutions who formed the first interschool league in the Philippines, the Liga Catolica, in 1917 until 1920.[2] When Letran College joined the NCAA in 1928, the juniors basketball team won their first championship, and then followed with two consecutive titles, establishing the very first juniors' three-peat championships in the team.[2]

In the NCAA, they have the second most number of combined basketball championships, with 33 titles. They also achieved the rare double championship three times: the first was in 1979-1980 season, followed by 1983-1984 season, and the latest is the 2022-23 season.[4]

The seniors’ team have won 20 NCAA championships, while their juniors’ counterpart have 13 championships. The Knights’ most recent championship was in 2022-23 season, while the Squires’ most recent championship was also in the same season.

Letran has a total of 20 NCAA chess championship titles, second to San Sebastian with 23 titles. In the seniors division, the Knights have won six championships. Their last championship run was during the 2009-10 season, where they beat the two-time defending champions CSB Blazers. Letran's Chester Brian Guerrero was named Most Valuable Player.[10]

In the juniors division, the Squires have won 14 NCAA titles, the most in the league. Their last championship was during the 2017-2018 season, winning back-to-back titles.[11]

The Letran swimming team is called the Aqua Knights.[12] The seniors' team last won the NCAA championship in 1986-87 season, while the juniors' team last won the title in 1985-86 season. Both the seniors and juniors team have won two titles each.

Letran was NCAA champion during the following seasons:

• Basketball
  • Seniors: 1938-1939, 1950-1951, 1960-1961, 1966-1967, 1970-1971, 1979-1980, 1982-1983, 1983-1984, 1984-1985, 1986-1987, 1987-1988, 1992-1993, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2015-2016, 2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2022-2023
  • Juniors: 1928-1929, 1929-1930, 1930-1931, 1931-1932, 1948-1949, 1957-1958, 1975-1976, 1979-1980, 1983-1984, 1985-1986, 1990-1991, 2001-2002, 2022-2023

• Volleyball
  • Men: 1981-1982, 1982–1983, 1983–1984, 1990–1991, 1991–1992, 1992–1993, 1993–1994, 1998–1999, 1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2007–2008, 2008–2009, 2009–2010
  • Women: 1977-1978, 1978–1979, 1979–1980, 1980–1981, 1997–1998, 1998–1999
  • Juniors: 1985-1986, 2001–2002, 2003–2004, 2004–2005
• Beach Volleyball
  • Men: 2008-2009, 2009-2010
  • Women: 2003-2004,2022
• Football
  • Seniors: 1983-1984, 1985–1986, 1986–1987, 1988–1989, 1997–1998
  • Juniors: 1965-1966, 1987–1988, 1988–1989, 2001–2002
• Softball
  • Seniors: 1978-1979, 1979–1980
• Swimming
  • Seniors: 1940-41, 1986-1987
  • Juniors: 1983-1984, 1985–1986
• Tennis
  • Seniors: 1976-1976, 1984–1985, 1985–1986, 1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2002
  • Juniors: 1982-1983, 1998–1999, 1999–2000, 2001–2002
• Table Tennis
  • Seniors: 1985-1986, 1989–1990, 2000–2001, 2001–2002, 2002–2003, 2003–2004
  • Juniors: 1986-1987, 1987–1988, 1988–1989, 1989–1990, 1990–1991, 1991–1992, 1997–1998, 1998–1999, 1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2002
  • Women's: 1998-1999,1999–2000,2001–2002,2002–2003,2003–2004
• Track & Field
  • Seniors: 1978-1979, 1989–1990, 1997–1998, 1998–1999, 1999–2000
  • Juniors: 1984-1985, 1986–1987, 2001–2001, 2001–2002, 2007–2008
• Chess
  • Seniors: 1978-1979, 1979–1980, 1981–1982, 1985–1986, 2003-2004, 2009-2010
  • Juniors: 1983-1984, 1987–1988, 1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2002
• General Championships:
  • Seniors: 1979, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009
  • Juniors: 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002