# 2023 Letran Knights basketball team

The 2023 Letran Knights men's basketball team represented Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 99th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. The men's basketball tournament for the school year 2023-24 began on September 24, 2023, and the host school for the season is Jose Rizal University.
The Knights, the Season 98 champions, began their campaign on September 24, 2023, against the hosts JRU Heavy Bombers in a losing effort.
The four-peat seeking Knights concluded their campaign on a sour note, finished the elimination round at ninth place with 2 wins and 16 losses, the worst record in school history.
Point guard Jay Garupil bagged the inaugural Freshman of the Year award.

## Coaching changes

Bonnie Tan formally parted ways with the Knights as he was named as the new head coach of NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA.
Tan was replaced by his deputy, Rensy Bajar, as the new head coach of the Knights.
Joining Bajar on the side lines are Raymund Tiongco, Lou Gatumbato, Matthew Sia, and John Paul Caparas.

## Roster changes

The Knights lost five of its key players from the 2022 championship team. Fran Yu, King Caralipio, Brent Paraiso, Louie Sangalang, and Tommy Olivario have used up all their playing years & were drafted in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Former UST Growling Tiger and De La Salle Green Archer guard Deo Cuajao will finally play for the Knights after redshirting for one year.
Among the rookies who will suit up for the Knights are Former UST Tiger Cub James Jumao-as, Paolo Galvez, and Jay Garupil.
Former UST Growling Tiger Ira Bataller, who joined the Knights in 2020, will finally play this season.

## Roster
### Depth chart

| Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 |
| C | Javillonar | Santos | Brillantes |
| PF | Ariar | Guarino | Go |
| SF | Monje | Tolentino | Bojorcelo |
| SG | Cuajao | Garupil | Jumao-as |
| PG | Reyson | Fajardo | Nunag |

## NCAA Season 99 games results

Elimination games were played in a double round-robin format. All games were aired on GMA, and livestreamed via the Facebook pages and YouTube channels of NCAA Philippines and GMA Sports.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Venue | Result | Record |
| First round of eliminations ||||||
| Sep 24 | 3:00 p.m. | JRU Heavy Bombers | Mall of Asia Arena • Pasay | L 79–85$^{OT}$ | 0–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Reyson – 18; Rebounds: Javillonar – 11; Assists: Fajardo, Reyson – 4 each ||||||
| Sep 27 | 4:00 p.m. | Lyceum Pirates | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 69–70 | 0–2 |
| Game Highs: Points: Reyson – 17; Rebounds: Go, Santos – 8 each; Assists: Reyson – 6 ||||||
| Oct 1 | 10:00 a.m. | EAC Generals | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 65–75 | 0–3 |
| Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 12; Rebounds: Go – 6; Assists: Reyson – 5 ||||||
| Oct 6 | 4:00 p.m. | San Beda Red Lions | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 63–68 | 0–4 |
| Game Highs: Points: Reyson – 22; Rebounds: Monje – 7; Assists: Ariar – 4 ||||||
| Oct 8 | 12:20 p.m. | Arellano Chiefs | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 80–87 | 0–5 |
| Game Highs: Points: Monje – 18; Rebounds: Monje, Nunag – 11 each; Assists: Reyson – 7 ||||||
| Oct 11 | 4:00 p.m. | Mapúa Cardinals | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 71–77 | 0–6 |
| Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 20; Rebounds: Santos – 11; Assists: Reyson – 6 ||||||
| Oct 15 | 12:20 p.m. | Perpetual Altas | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 59–74 | 0–7 |
| Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 15; Rebounds: Nunag, Santos – 12 each; Assists: Ariar, Reyson – 3 each ||||||
| Oct 18 | 4:00 p.m. | San Sebastian Stags | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | W 86–71 | 1–7 |
| Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 14; Rebounds: Santos – 13; Assists: Ariar – 5 ||||||
| Oct 22 | 2:40 p.m. | Benilde Blazers | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 55–68 | 1–8 |
| Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 11; Rebounds: Ariar – 11; Assists: Fajardo – 3 ||||||
| Tenth place at 1 win–8 losses after 1st round ||||||
| Second round of eliminations ||||||
| Oct 25 | 2:00 p.m. | Perpetual Altas | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 61–73 | 1–9 |
| Game Highs: Points: Javillonar – 14; Rebounds: Javillonar – 8; Assists: Garupil – 5 ||||||
| Oct 28 | 3:00 p.m. | Mapúa Cardinals | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 66–69 | 1–10 |
| Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 12; Rebounds: Ariar – 8; Assists: Bataller – 5 ||||||
| Nov 3 | 1:30 p.m. | EAC Generals | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 69–82 | 1–11 |
| Game Highs: Points: Monje – 14; Rebounds: Monje, Santos – 7 each; Assists: Cuajao, Reyson – 3 each ||||||
| Nov 5 | 12:00 p.m. | Lyceum Pirates | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 79–85 | 1–12 |
| Game Highs: Points: Cuajao – 24; Rebounds: Santos – 9; Assists: Fajardo, Garupil – 3 each ||||||
| Nov 8 | 1:30 p.m. | San Sebastian Stags | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 75–94 | 1–13 |
| Game Highs: Points: Garupil – 16; Rebounds: Garupil – 6; Assists: Garupil – 5 ||||||
| Nov 11 | 3:00 p.m. | JRU Heavy Bombers | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 74–79 | 1–14 |
| Game Highs: Points: Monje – 18; Rebounds: Ariar, Garupil, Monje, Santos – 5 each; Assists: Garupil – 11 ||||||
| Nov 14 | 1:30 p.m. | Arellano Chiefs | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | W 67–58 | 2–14 |
| Game Highs: Points: Monje – 13; Rebounds: Garupil – 6; Assists: Garupil – 3 ||||||
| Nov 19 | 3:30 p.m. | Benilde Blazers | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 54–72 | 2–15 |
| Game Highs: Points: Monje – 18; Rebounds: Javillonar, Monje – 9 each; Assists: Bataller – 3 ||||||
| Nov 24 | 3:30 p.m. | San Beda Red Lions | Filoil EcoOil Centre • San Juan | L 68–77 | 2–16 |
| Game Highs: Points: Monje – 17; Rebounds: Monje – 11; Assists: Garupil – 5 ||||||
| Ninth place after 2nd round (1 win–8 losses in the 2nd round) ||||||
Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

## Awards

| Player | Award |
| Jay Garupil | NCAA Freshman of the Year |