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The 2022 Letran Knights men's basketball team represented Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 98th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. The men's basketball tournament for the school year 2022-23 began on September 10, 2022, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and the host school for the season is Emilio Aguinaldo College.

The Knights, the Season 97 champions, began their campaign on September 14, 2022, against JRU Heavy Bombers instead of its earlier play date which was the opening day against the season's hosts EAC Generals due to four Letran players contracted COVID-19 virus.

The Knights finished the elimination round at second place with 13 wins and 5 losses. They have returned to the Finals for three straight seasons after defeating the Lyceum Pirates in the Final Four, 67-58.

The Knights went on to defeat the Benilde Blazers in three games to capture their 20th NCAA championship, clinching their first three straight titles in 38 years, since 1984. King Caralipio was named Finals Most Valuable Player and Mythical Five member.

Roster

Letran Knights roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Year High School SF 17 Ariar, Kint Devone I. 6'3" (1.91m) 2nd Saint Dominic Savio Learning Center SF 27 Caralipio, King Denielle M. 6'3" (1.91m) 5th San Pedro High School SF 25 Go, Rafael S. 6'5" (1.96m) 1st Chiang Kai Shek College PF 35 Guarino, Neil Andrey A. 6'6" (1.98m) 3rd Colegio de San Juan de Letran PF 9 Javillonar, Marc Paolo J. 6'7" (2.01m) 3rd Nazareth School of National University C 15 Lantaya, Jimly 6'10" (2.08m) 2nd Nazareth School of National University PF 13 Miclat, Joshua 6'5" (1.96m) 1st St. Augustine Institute of Pampanga SF 39 Monje, Kobe Bryan 6'4" (1.93m) 1st Colegio de San Juan de Letran PG 6 Olivario, Tommy York G. 5'9" (1.75m) 5th Colegio de San Juan de Letran SG 38 Paraiso, Brent Isaac P. 6'3" (1.91m) 2nd De La Salle-Zobel PG 8 Reyson, Kurt Spencer E. 5'10" (1.78m) 3rd Colegio de San Juan de Letran PF 5 Sangalang, Mark Louie 6'6" (1.98m) 4th Academy of Queen Mary School Inc. PF 4 Santos, Kevin Kyle 6'7" (2.01m) 1st St. Augustine Institute of Pampanga SG 7 Tolentino, Kyle Dominic 6'4" (1.93m) 2nd Colegio de San Juan de Letran PG 3 Yu, Fran Louie Y. (C) 5'10" (1.78m) 4th Chiang Kai Shek College SG 10 Angeles, Steven 6'1" (1.85m) 1st San Sebastian College-Recoletos SG 18 Bautista, Justine 6'3" (1.91m) 1st Colegio de San Juan de Letran PG 24 Bojorcelo, Josef Enrico – 1st Caybiga High School	Head coach Bonnie Tan Assistant coach(es) Raymund Tiongco Rensy Bajar Alfredo Jarencio II Strength & conditioning coach(es) Emilio Rafael Avenido Team manager Waiyip Chong Eric Ang Legend (C) Team captain Injured

Depth chart

Roster changes

The Knights lost four of its key players from last season's championship team. Season 97 Finals MVP Jeo Ambohot, Christian Fajarito, and Allen Mina were drafted last May 15, 2022 in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Meanwhile Rhenz Abando, the Season 97 MVP, has decided to forego his final year of eligibility and signed on as a professional basketball player for Anyang KGC in the Korean Basketball League.

Discipline

• Letran players Louie Sangalang and Brent Paraiso were suspended by the NCAA Management Committee headed by Commissioner Tonichi Pujante. Paraiso was caught throwing his elbow at the back of the head of Mapua’s Adrian Nocum, while Sangalang committed his second technical foul. Both players were suspended in one game. After further review by the league officials, the NCAA extended the suspension of Sangalang and Paraiso to two games.

• Letran guard Kyle Tolentino served his one-game suspension in Game 2 of the NCAA Finals after occupying Benilde Blazers' Migs Oczon's landing spot in a three-point attempt that resulted in injury during their Game 1 matchup.

• Letran guard Kobe Monje served his one-game suspension in Game 2 of the NCAA Finals after he was ejected for elbowing Benilde Blazers' Macoy Marcos on the head during their Game 1 matchup.

• Letran forward Paolo Javillonar was reprimanded for his unsportsmanlike behavior when he touched the private part of Will Gozum of the Benilde Blazers and warned that a repetition or commission of a similar offense will merit a stricter penalty. He is to issue a public apology and render community service "as a rehabilitative measure."

• Letran guard and team captain Fran Yu served his one-game suspension in Game 3 of the NCAA Finals after he was ejected for elbowing Mark Sangco during their Game 2 matchup. Letran appealed the suspension to the Management Committee, but was denied.

NCAA Season 98 games results

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

Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

1. Letran held a twice-to-beat advantage over Lyceum

Awards

References

1. Micaller, Bea (September 9, 2022). "NCAA Season 98 kicks off with star-studded, festive opening ceremonies". GMA News Online. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
2. Isaga, JR (September 5, 2022). "NCAA bumps off 2-time champ Letran from Season 98 opening due to COVID-19". Rappler. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
3. Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (November 29, 2022). "NCAA: Letran returns to finals, ousts Lyceum". Inquirer.net. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
4. Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (December 18, 2022). "Letran wins third straight NCAA title, routs Benilde". Inquirer.net. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
5. Dioquino, Delfin (May 15, 2022). "FULL LIST: 2022 PBA Season 47 Draft". Rappler. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
6. Morales, Luisa (July 28, 2022). "Rhenz Abando leaves Letran, goes pro in KBL". Philippine Star. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
7. Anolin, Carlo (September 28, 2022). "Letran's Paraiso, Sangalang slapped with one-game suspension". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
8. Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (September 30, 2022). "NCAA extends Louie Sangalang, Brent Paraiso suspensions to 2 games". Inquirer.net. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
9. Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (December 9, 2022). "NCAA suspends Letran's Kyle Tolentino, reprimands Pao Javillonar". Inquirer.net. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
10. Cruz, Zachi (December 6, 2022). "Kobe Monje insists he meant no harm on 'pal' Macoy Marcos". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
11. Carandang, Justin Kenneth (December 9, 2022). "Letran's Kyle Tolentino suspended; Pao Javillonar required to issue apology, undergo community service". GMA News. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
12. Leongson, Randolph (December 13, 2022). "NCAA stands by decision to suspend Fran Yu in Game Three". SPIN.ph. Retrieved December 18, 2022.

• Letran Knights basketball team seasons