# 2019 Letran Knights basketball team

The 2019 Letran Knights men's basketball team represented Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 95th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. The men's basketball tournament for the school year 2019-20 began on July 7, 2019, and the host school for the season was Arellano University.
The Knights finished the double round-robin eliminations at third place with 12 wins against 6 losses. They then eliminated San Sebastian Stags in the first round of the stepladder semifinals and went on to defeat the second seeded Lyceum Pirates in the next round to advance to the finals against the undefeated San Beda Red Lions.
The Knights went on to defeat the Red Lions in three games to capture their 18th NCAA championship, their first since winning the title last 2015 when they also toppled San Beda in the finals. Point guard Fran Yu was named Finals Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player of the season.

## Roster
### Depth chart

| Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 |
| C | Balagasay | Muyang | Javillonar |
| PF | Ular | Ambohot | Guarino |
| SF | Mina | Caralipio | Sangalang |
| SG | Batiller | Balanza | Pambid |
| PG | Reyson | Yu | Olivario |

## Coaching staff

Head coach Jeff Napa formally part ways with Letran at the end of his three-year contract, who was then hired in the Philippine Basketball Association by NorthPort Batang Pier as an assistant coach. On February 28, 2019, Letran officials formally named NorthPort Batang Pier team manager and former longtime Lyceum Pirates head coach Bonnie Tan as the Knights' new mentor.
Joining Tan in the coaching staff are Raymund Tiongco, Eiven Gatumbato, Gil Lumberio, Letran Squires head coach RJ Guevarra, Diliman College Blue Dragons head coach Rensy Bajar, and PBA star LA Tenorio.

## Pre-season results

2019 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup
| Date | Time | Opponent | Venue | Result | Record |
| Eliminations ||||||
| May 7 | 3:15 p.m. | JRU Heavy Bombers | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 78–67 | 1–0 |
| Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 25; Rebounds: Ular – 14; Assists: Balanza – 5 ||||||
| May 10 | 4:00 p.m. | FEU Tamaraws | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 75–70 | 2–0 |
| May 12 | 2:00 p.m. | NU Bulldogs | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 76–69 | 3–0 |
| May 17 | 2:00 p.m. | Lyceum Pirates | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | L 95–101 | 3–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Mina – 30; Rebounds: Sangalang – 6; Assists: Olivario – 4 ||||||
| May 20 | 4:00 p.m. | EAC Generals | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 79–77 | 4–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Mina – 17; Rebounds: Muyang – 11; Assists: Caralipio, Olivario – 3 ||||||
| May 25 | 2:00 p.m. | Adamson Soaring Falcons | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | L 85–89 | 4–2 |
| June 10 | 4:00 p.m. | Benilde Blazers | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 74–62 | 5–2 |
| Game Highs: Points: Ular – 18; Rebounds: Ular – 15; Assists: Olivario, Yu – 4 ||||||
| Advances to Quarterfinals ||||||
| Quarterfinals ||||||
| June 17 | 4:00 p.m. | De La Salle Green Archers | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | L 69–80 | 0–1 |
Times listed above are in UTC+08:00
2019 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Record |
| Eliminations ||||||
| Feb 28 | Che'lu Bar and Grill | Ynares Sports Arena • Pasig | L 94–96 | 0–1 |
| Mar 5 | AMA University Titans | Paco Arena • Manila | W 108–91 | 1–1 |
| Mar 9 | Batangas-EAC Generals | Ynares Sports Arena • Pasig | W 115–73 | 2–1 |
| Mar 18 | McDavid Apparels | Paco Arena • Manila | W 89–64 | 3–1 |
| Mar 26 | Family Mart-Enderun Colleges | JCSGO Gym • Quezon City | W 77–70 | 4–1 |
| Apr 3 | Cignal-Ateneo Hawkeyes | Ynares Sports Arena • Pasig | L 69–83 | 4–2 |
| Apr 11 | Ironcon-UST Growling Tigers | Ynares Sports Arena • Pasig | W 114–101 | 5–2 |
| Apr 23 | Virtual Reality-St. Clare College | JCSGO Gym • Quezon City | W 91–90 | 6–2 |
| May 2 | Go For Gold-CSB Scratchers | Ynares Sports Arena • Pasig | L 87–107 | 6–3 |
Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

## NCAA Season 95 games results

Elimination games were played in a double round-robin format. All games were aired on ABS-CBN Sports and Action, Liga, & iWantTFC.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Venue | Result | Record |
| First round of eliminations ||||||
| Jul 7 | 2:00 p.m. | Lyceum Pirates | Mall of Asia Arena • Pasay City | L 80–84 | 0–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 19; Rebounds: Ambohot – 10; Assists: Olivario – 7 ||||||
| Jul 12 | 2:00 p.m. | Arellano Chiefs | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 81–72 | 1–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 31; Rebounds: Ambohot – 11; Assists: Yu, Olivario – 5 ||||||
| Jul 16 | 12:00 p.m. | JRU Heavy Bombers | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 55–43 | 2–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Batiller – 14; Rebounds: Muyang, Yu – 7; Assists: Batiller – 4 ||||||
| Jul 19 | 12:00 p.m. | Perpetual Altas | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 82–80$^{OT}$ | 3–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Batiller – 22; Rebounds: Ambohot, Ular – 13; Assists: Balanza, Yu – 5 ||||||
| Jul 23 | 4:00 p.m. | EAC Generals | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 91–89 | 4–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 22; Rebounds: Muyang – 10; Assists: Yu – 5 ||||||
| Jul 30 | 12:00 p.m. | Mapúa Cardinals | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 89–84 | 5–1 |
| Game Highs: Points: Muyang – 24; Rebounds: Muyang – 9; Assists: Yu – 7 ||||||
| Aug 10 | 2:00 p.m. | San Beda Red Lions | Cuneta Astrodome • Pasay City | L 66–70 | 5–2 |
| Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 20; Rebounds: Ambohot – 9; Assists: Balanza – 5 ||||||
| Aug 20 | 12:00 p.m. | San Sebastian Stags | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | L 101–102$^{OT}$ | 5–3 |
| Game Highs: Points: Muyang – 32; Rebounds: Muyang – 18; Assists: Yu, Olivario – 4 ||||||
| Sep 6 | 12:00 p.m. | Benilde Blazers | Cuneta Astrodome • Pasay City | W 88–64 | 6–3 |
| Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 26; Rebounds: Ambohot – 9; Assists: Yu – 7 ||||||
| Tied at second place after 1st round (6 wins–3 losses) ||||||
| Second round of eliminations ||||||
| Sep 10 | 4:00 p.m. | JRU Heavy Bombers | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 81–61 | 7–3 |
| Game Highs: Points: Ular – 17; Rebounds: Ular – 7; Assists: Yu – 5 ||||||
| Sep 13 | 2:00 p.m. | Mapúa Cardinals | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | L 101–105$^{OT}$ | 7–4 |
| Game Highs: Points: Yu – 23; Rebounds: Ular – 23; Assists: Balanza, Yu – 7 ||||||
| Sep 20 | 4:00 p.m. | San Sebastian Stags | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 99–82 | 8–4 |
| Game Highs: Points: Muyang, Batiller – 15; Rebounds: Ular – 11; Assists: Yu – 6 ||||||
| Sep 24 | 2:00 p.m. | Benilde Blazers | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 87–74 | 9–4 |
| Game Highs: Points: Ular – 20; Rebounds: Batiller, Caralipio, Ular – 8; Assists: Yu – 8 ||||||
| Sep 27 | 4:00 p.m. | Lyceum Pirates | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | L 90–97 | 9–5 |
| Game Highs: Points: Reyson – 20; Rebounds: Batiller, Ular – 6; Assists: Balanza, Olivario – 8 ||||||
| Oct 1 | 2:00 p.m. | San Beda Red Lions | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | L 63–75 | 9–6 |
| Game Highs: Points: Muyang – 13; Rebounds: Ambohot – 8; Assists: Muyang – 3 ||||||
| Oct 3 | 2:00 p.m. | Arellano Chiefs | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 97–84 | 10–6 |
| Game Highs: Points: Batiller – 18; Rebounds: Ambohot, Caralipio – 8; Assists: Yu – 6 ||||||
| Oct 11 | 12:00 p.m. | Perpetual Altas | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 88–69 | 11–6 |
| Game Highs: Points: Balagasay, Balanza – 18; Rebounds: Ular – 16; Assists: Ambohot, Yu – 4 ||||||
| Oct 17 | 2:00 p.m. | EAC Generals | Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan | W 87–79 | 12–6 |
| Game Highs: Points: Muyang – 22; Rebounds: Muyang – 11; Assists: Batiller, Yu – 4 ||||||
| Third place at 12 wins–6 losses (6 wins–3 losses in the 2nd round) ||||||
| First round of stepladder semifinals ||||||
| Nov 5 | 4:00 p.m. | San Sebastian Stags | Cuneta Astrodome • Pasay City | W 85–80 | 1–0 (13–6) |
| Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 15; Rebounds: Yu – 7; Assists: Balanza, Batiller, Ular – 4 ||||||
| Advanced to second round of stepladder semifinals ||||||
| Second round of stepladder semifinals ||||||
| Nov 8 | 4:00 p.m. | Lyceum Pirates | Cuneta Astrodome • Pasay City | W 92–88 | 1–0 (14–6) |
| Game Highs: Points: Yu – 20; Rebounds: Muyang – 9; Assists: Batiller, Yu – 6 ||||||
| Advanced to Finals ||||||
| Finals ||||||
| Nov 12 | 4:00 p.m. | San Beda Red Lions | Mall of Asia Arena • Pasay City | W 65–64 | 1–0 (15–6) |
| Game Highs: Points: Batiller – 12; Rebounds: Muyang – 8; Assists: Yu – 6 ||||||
| Nov 15 | 4:00 p.m. | San Beda Red Lions | Mall of Asia Arena • Pasay City | L 76–79 | 1–1 (15–7) |
| Game Highs: Points: Yu – 23; Rebounds: Caralipio, Muyang – 10; Assists: Yu – 5 ||||||
| Nov 19 | 4:00 p.m. | San Beda Red Lions | Mall of Asia Arena • Pasay City | W 81–79 | 2–1 (16–7) |
| Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 27; Rebounds: Ular – 9; Assists: Yu – 7 ||||||
| Knights clinched 18th NCAA championship ||||||
Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

## Awards

| Player | Award |
| Bonbon Batiller | Player of the Week — July 14–20 |
| Jerrick Balanza | Player of the Week — September 1–7 |
| Fran Yu | NCAA Finals Most Valuable Player |
| Fran Yu | NCAA Most Improved Player |