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.
History
Pre-war: first championship The Letran basketball team found its humble beginnings in Liga Catolica until the 1920s. Letran then joined the NCAA in 1928. Letran College withdrew, however, in 1933, after a dispute over a decision of one of its team member during the Letran-Ateneo basketball game. Letran then later rejoined the league in 1936. Two years later, the Knights won their first senior basketball title under coach Jacinto Ciria Cruz and team captain Felicisimo Fajardo by beating San Beda, 42-30. Letran Knights 1938–39 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsFely Fajardo · Angel de Leon · Guillermo Salvador · Feliciano Manlulu · Carlos Camillas · Jose Pacheco · Honesto Baltazar · Francisco Nepomuceno · Victorio Salazar · German Monzon · Guillermo MendozaHead coach: Jacinto Ciria Cruz
1950–1980: after the war The Knights emerged as the top team in 1950. Dubbed as the Letran Murder Inc., Letran could have won the NCAA title by a sweep, but it was beaten by underdog San Beda in the final game of the tournament. The team was coached by Angel de Leon and led by 1948 Olympian Lauro "The Fox" Mumar. Letran Knights 1950–51 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsLauro Mumar · Nilo Verona · Luis Tabuena · Cesar de Sequera · Herminio Astorga · Jose Rubio Gutierrez · Jose Maria Iglesias · Ricardo Panis · Adriano Barata · Cristino Cui · Leodegario Pilones · Narciso Mañalac · Melquiades Manicsic · Senen Obiadas · Antonio VidalHead coach: Angel De Leon
During this period, the Knights made a habit of winning championships around the turn of every decade. In 1960 the team, which were led by Clemente Bargas, Augusto Cepeda, bigman William Jance, and rookies Freddie Webb and Basilio Go, faced the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers in the championship round at the Araneta Coliseum. They finally clinched the championship, thanks to Basilio Go's game-winning jumper from the free throw area to win the game, 75-73, thus ending a ten-year title drought. The 1960 champion team was coached by Bibiano Ouano, former Ateneo Blue Eagle and member of the 1936 Summer Olympics men's basketball team. Later in 1966, the Knights, coached by Nilo Verona and were led by Larry Albano, Nemie Villegas, Augusto Fermin, and Eddie Reyes, beat the much taller Heavy Bombers for the championship. In the 1970 season, the Knights, led by Molet and Ricky Pineda, Rudy Hines and bigman Dave Regullano, beat the De La Salle Green Archers, for the championship.
In 1979, two sides from the Intramuros district of Manila, the oldest part of the city, battled one another in the championship round of the tournament. The so-called 'Battle of Intramuros' saw the Letran Knights and the Mapua Cardinals face off for the championship. Coached by the legendary Nemie Villegas, and led by Most Valuable Player (MVP) Ramon San Juan, shooting forward Angelito "Itoy" Esguerra, spitfire Pedrito "Bong" Aninon, Timoteo "Tim" Coloso, Nonito "Nonie" Robles, and team captain Ed Baldomero, the Knights defeated the Leo Isaac-led Cardinals to take home the school's 6th championship.
In 1980, hooliganism again marred the league. Fans of the Letran Knights, hoping for a back-to-back winning season, and the fans of the De La Salle Green Archers, got involved in a large brawl inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. The BAP ordered the game to be re-played but the NCAA Policy Board decided to cancel the whole tournament. Letran was suspended from all events because of its participation in the brawl, and got reinstated in 1981. Letran Knights 1960–61 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsClemente Bargas · Augusto Cepeda · William Jance · Basilio Go · Freddie Webb · Ramoncito Fernandez · Rolly Arzaga · Paco Del Rosario · Armando Campos · Severino Ong · Rolando Montelibano · Leopoldo Melo · Teodoro Lansang · Alfredo Van Short · Jaime DivinagraciaHead coach: Bing Ouano Letran Knights 1966–67 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsJoe Bolido · Romeo Bolido · Eddie Reyes · Fred Reyes · William Roco · Tony Roco · Boy Serrano · Tomasito Tolentino · Augusto Fermin · Nemie Villegas · Dick Marquez · Quelly Aro · Angel ManzanoHead coach: Nilo Verona Letran Knights 1970–71 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsMolet Pineda · Ricky Pineda · Rudy Hines · Dave Regullano · Tommy Gutierrez · Evangelio Peñalosa · Teddy Perez · Rino Salazar · Danny Marpal · Danny de Guzman · Nicolas Arceles · Amado Beltran · Bonifacio de Matta · Arsenio Reyes · Ezpedido YummulHead coach: Gabby Fajardo Letran Knights 1979–80 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsEddie Baldomero · Pedrito Aniñon · Arnulfo Robles · Ramon San Juan · Bobby Valenzuela · Tim Coloso · Ramon Navales · Ted McKinney · Itoy Esguerra · William Alberto · Tony de Leon · Chito Mojica · Ed Ducut · Vicente Gavieres · Boyet OlañoHead coach: Nemie Villegas
Early 80s: Samboy Lim era and the first three-peat The Letran Knights started the 1982 season under the tutelage of new coach Larry Albano which featured a very exciting player named Avelino "Samboy" Lim, a product of San Beda's high school program. After sweeping the first round, the Knights continued to pile up victories in the second round and was two wins ahead of second-ranked San Sebastian Stags. The Knights were unofficially crowned champions but they still had to play Trinity College in a no-bearing game to officially finish their NCAA campaign. The Knights lost that game 102-89 but it didn't matter as the school's 7th title was still presented to them.
In 1983, Samboy Lim and the Knights advanced to the championship round where they will meet Nani Demegillo and the San Sebastian Stags for the title. The championship game was decided on a best-of-3 series and both teams split the first two games but in Game 3 the Knights played inspired basketball thanks to Samboy Lim's heroic deed of choosing to play instead of resting in his hospital bed due to an asthma attack prior to the game, and captured their second straight championship. Romy Ang was named MVP of the season. With San Beda taking a leave of absence in 1984, the NCAA kicked off the season with only five schools participating and the Knights become the first school to finish the season undefeated and champions. Samboy Lim was named MVP of the season. Letran Knights 1982–83 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsBobby Agner · Monty Aquino · Jerry Gonzales · Tonichi Pujante · Jojo Cuizon · Elmer Latonio · Romeo Ang · Cayetano Salazar · Marciano Avila, Jr. · Antonio Cabatana · Tino Pinat · Salvador Ramos · Ermar Bolabola · Victor Bonot · Samboy LimHead coach: Larry Albano Letran Knights 1983–84 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsMonty Aquino · Jerry Gonzales · Tonichi Pujante · Jojo Cuizon · Elmer Latonio · Romeo Ang · Cayetano Salazar · Marciano Avila, Jr. · Antonio Cabatana · Tino Pinat · Salvador Ramos · Ermar Bolabola · Victor Bonot · Samboy LimHead coach: Larry Albano Letran Knights 1984–85 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsMonty Aquino · Jerry Gonzales · Tonichi Pujante · Dong Polistico · Fernando Libed · Romeo Ang · Cayetano Salazar · Fortunato Cortez · Antonio Cabatana · Tino Pinat · Salvador Ramos · Ermar Bolabola · Victor Bonot · Samboy LimHead coach: Larry Albano
Late 80s: second back-to-back In 1985, hopes for a rare four-peat vanished as the Knights succumbed to the Stags in the Finals as they lost five of its key players, notable of which was Samboy Lim.
In 1986, Letran won the 2nd round eliminations to arrange a championship match again with the defending champions San Sebastian, led by "Mr. Excitement" Paul Alvarez, for the third time in five years. The Knights were coached by Eddie Reyes and bannered by Fernando "Dong" Libed, Arthur Ayson, Cayetano Salazar, Jing Ruiz, Robert Ruiz, and Justino Pinat. Letran won the series in three games.
In 1987, the Letran Knights swept the 2nd round eliminations to secure a spot again in the Finals to face their rivals San Sebastian Stags in a best-of-three series. The Stags won Game 1 via Eugene Quilban and Napoleon Hatton's heroics. In Game 2, Letran found an unlikely hero in rookie Erwin Santos to secure the win. Letran finally won the series in three games, 63-62, highlighted by a game-winning fadeaway jumper by Dong Libed at the buzzer, making the whole Letran gallery erupted in jubilation and spilled the court. Letran Knights 1986–87 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsMonty Aquino · Arthur Ayson · Marlon Bolabola · Ronnie Co · Alberto David · Eric Enad · Fernando Libed · Tino Pinat · Jerry Ruiz · Robert Ruiz · Cayetano SalazarHead coach: Eddie Reyes Letran Knights 1987–88 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsArthur Ayson · Marlon Bolabola · Edison Cubacub · Alberto David · Eric Enad · Fernando Libed · William Johnson · Tino Pinat · Jerry Ruiz · Robert Ruiz · Erwin SantosHead coach: Eddie Reyes
The 1990s: three more titles In 1992, Letran won the 2nd round of the eliminations and the right to face the 1st round winners San Sebastian Stags in a best-of-three Finals. Led by season MVP Ronald "Joy" Peña, Scoring Champion Carlito Espiritu, Gilbert Castillo, and Wilmon Yu, the Knights defeated the Stags in three games. A power outage hit the area with 42 seconds left and Letran students and supporters poured onto the court for an early celebration while waiting for the lights to be restored. Letran Knights 1992–93 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsFrancis Arabit · Joven Banez · Eric Castillo · Gilbert Castillo · Carlito Espiritu · Gian Paolo Evidente · Paul Guerrero · Jovito Macatugal · Dennis Marcelo · James Milan · Ronald Peña · Efrain Soto · Wilmon YuHead coach: Rudy Hines
In 1997, the team, bannered by Willie Miller and then-rookie Kerby Raymundo, went on to the Final Four. They beat Mapua in the first round of the step-ladder, but got eliminated by San Beda in the 2nd round.
In 1998, the Knights, led by Kerby Raymundo and season MVP Chris Calaguio, and now coached by Louie Alas, faced the sixth-peat seeking Stags in the Finals. Letran won the series via Nicholas Pacheco's game-winning three point shot to capture their 13th championship. Louie Alas then left the team to coach the Philippines men's national basketball team in the 1999 SEA Games in Brunei.
During the 1999 season, the Letran Knights were mentored by Binky Favis. History was made when the Letran Knights became the first team ranked fourth to beat a number one ranked team, the San Sebastian Stags, in the semi-finals that year. The Letran Knights went to the best-of-three Finals to face the JRC Heavy Bombers, led by Ernani Epondulan and Ariel Capus. Letran won Game 1 via Aldin Ayo's late-game layup. During the 2nd game with only 3 minutes remaining, Letran's John Paul Prior and JRC's John Dale Valena got into a fistfight on the court, causing the crowd from both sides to throw all sorts of debris onto the playing court thus delaying the game, and later triggering a brawl that reached outside the ULTRA stadium. JRC officials then decided to concede the game with Letran leading 83-60, thus gave the championship to the Knights. Kerby Raymundo was named season and Finals MVP. Letran Knights 1998–99 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsWilliam Moody · Marlon Bernal · Jason Misolas · Kerby Raymundo · Erwin Velez · Aldin Ayo · Edgar Lee · Orlan Tama · Allan Salangsang · Marcelino Soriano · Anthony Lim · Jose Nicholas Pacheco · Chris Calaguio · Paul Moreno · John Paul PriorHead coach: Louie Alas Letran Knights 1999–2000 NCAA Men's Basketball ChampionsWilliam Moody · Jason Misolas · Kerby Raymundo · Aldin Ayo · Edgar Lee · Orlan Tama · Allan Salangsang · Marco Garcia · Anthony Lim · Jose Nicholas Pacheco · Richard Gutierrez · Paul Moreno · John Paul Prior · Kristoffer ReyesHead coach: Binky Favis
2000s: return of Louie Alas