2021 Letran Knights men's basketball | |
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NCAA Season 97 champions | |
Record | |
Elims rank | #1 |
Final rank | #1 |
2021 record | 12–0 (9–0 elims) |
Head coach | Bonnie Tan (2nd season) |
Assistant coaches | Rensy Bajar Raymund Tiongco Alfredo Jarencio II LA Tenorio |
Captain | Jeo Ambohot (5th season) |
Seasons← 20192022 → |
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.
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. They swept the single round-robin eliminations, finishing at first place with 9 wins against no losses.
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. The last time Letran made back-to-back Finals was in 2012 to 2013 seasons.
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. Team captain Jeo Ambohot was named Finals Most Valuable Player, Mythical Five member, and All-Defensive team member, while Rhenz Abando bagged Season Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and was also named in the Mythical Five.
Roster
Letran Knights roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Depth chart
Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 | ||
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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. Jerrick Balanza, Larry Muyang, Edson Batiller, and Christian Balagasay were drafted last 2019 in the Philippine Basketball Association, while Ato Ular is now playing in FilBasket as a pro.
Christian Fajarito, who last played for Letran in 2018, returned in the roster. The Knights also welcomed its two blue chip transferees from the University of Santo Tomas, Rhenz Abando and Brent Paraiso.
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 tournamentsElimination 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.
Date | Time | Opponent | Venue | Result | Record | ||||||
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 | |||||||||||
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
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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:- Letran held a twice-to-beat advantage over UPHSD
Awards
Player | Award |
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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
- Leongson, Randolph (January 14, 2022). "NCAA driven to start Season 97 by March". SPIN.ph. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- Magallon, Reynald (March 26, 2022). "Abando shines in debut as Letran frustrates Benilde". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- Dalupang, Denison Rey (April 29, 2022). "NCAA: Letran sweeps elimination round, escapes rival San Beda". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- Navarro, June (May 8, 2022). "Letran back in NCAA Finals, holds off Perpetual". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- Naredo, Camille (May 8, 2022). "NCAA: Letran survives Perpetual to book Finals berth". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- "Letran sweeps Mapua for back-to-back NCAA crowns". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Li, Matthew (May 23, 2022). "Rhenz Abando becomes 11th Letran Knight crowned NCAA MVP". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Micaller, Bea (March 26, 2022). "NCAA Season 97 preview: Letran eyes title defense with reinforced roster". GMA Network. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- Dioquino, Delfin (December 8, 2019). "Columbian nabs Isaac Go as No. 1 pick in PBA Draft 2019". Rappler. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- Li, Matthew (March 18, 2022). "MPBL rivals San Juan, Davao Occi go separate ways as Filbasket, PSL begin". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- 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.
- Isaga, JR (September 7, 2020). "Ex-Tigers Abando, Paraiso, Bataller complete transfer to Letran". Rappler. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- "NCAA Season 97 officially kicks off this March 26 on GMA". Manila Bulletin. March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
Letran Knights basketball seasons | |
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Boldface denotes championship; Italic denotes final four appearance; Grayed out denotes no tournament held |