• Source: Letran Squires basketball

The Letran Squires basketball is the high school boys' basketball program of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. The Squires have won 14 championships since joining the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).




History






= Pre-war: Letran's first three-peat

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After Letran joined the NCAA in 1924, they have won its first NCAA crown in 1928, then known as the midget basketball championship. Letran then retained the crown in 1929 and in 1930. It was Letran's first Grand Slam. It again won in 1932, now the regular junior basketball championship.




= After the war

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In 1948 season, Letran capped its 5th juniors basketball title under head coach Angel de Leon. Nine years later, in 1957 they have captured their 6th title under head coach Luis Tabuena and the team was bannered by Miguel de la Concepcion.
Letran would not win a juniors title again until 1975 which was bannered by Richard Young.




= Double championships and subsequent titles

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In 1979, the Squires, bannered by Terry Saldaña and mentored under head coach Larry Albano, won its 8th juniors title and at the same time Letran won its very first double championship together with their seniors' counterpart. Another double championship celebration was held when the Squires won its 9th title in 1983 under head coach Freddie Reyes and bannered by Gene Afable and Gido Babilonia.

In 1984, however, they have failed to defend their title as they have lost to Trinity College Baby Stallions. The team was bannered by Babilonia and Alfrancis Chua. In 1985, Babilonia and Chua successfully reclaimed the championship for the Squires before they transferred to UST to play college basketball for the Glowing Goldies. In 1990, under head coach Mollet Pineda, the Squires have captured another juniors title after five years. The team was bannered by Chris Cantonjos. The following year, Letran returned its juniors championship trophy after a player was found to be ineligible.




= 2000s: One more title and post-championship frustrations

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The Squires once again would not win a juniors title. In 2000 season, they swept the eliminations, clinching a 14-0 sweep, only to be frustrated in two games by 2nd-seed Mapua Red Robins in the Finals.
In 2001, bannered by Jay-R Reyes and JC Intal, successfully captured the NCAA juniors championship by beating the San Beda Red Cubs in three games. Leland Ronquillo won Finals MVP honors.

In 2002, Squires stars Jay-R Reyes and JC Intal decided to pursue their college basketball careers in the UAAP. Reyes went to UP, while Intal joined Ateneo. The Squires managed to go back in the Finals, but they were beaten in two games by last year's runner-ups San Beda Red Cubs.
In 2003, the Squires finished at 2nd place in standings, but got eliminated by the third-seed Mapua Red Robins in the stepladder semi-finals. The team was bannered by Jeff Morial and Lucas Tagarda.
In 2004, the Squires successfully barged into the Finals. However, they were beaten by the San Beda Red Cubs in three games.
In 2005, the Squires finished 3rd place in the elimination rounds with 8 wins and 4 losses. However, a protest filed by San Beda forced them to forfeit all of their games and disqualified to compete in the Final Four after third-year point guard Lester Alvarez was found out having played in an inter-city league while the tournament is on going. The following season, they would finished winless.




= 2020-present: COVID-19 pandemic and back to championship form

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When the Philippines was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the NCAA Management Committee decided to suspend the 95th season to an indefinite halt. The following season, no contact sports, including basketball and volleyball, were held.
The juniors basketball tournament returned in February 2023. The Letran Squires finally ended their 22-year championship drought by beating LSGH in two games. Squires star Andy Gemao was awarded Finals MVP and Mythical Five, while big man George Diamante clinched Defensive Player of the Year plum and was included in the All-Defensive Team. With the win, Letran achieved a rare double championship together with the Knights since 1983. After the season, Gemao decided to leave Letran to pursue his basketball career in the United States.
In 2024, the Squires successfully defended their title by beating Perpetual in three games. Moses Manalili bagged the Finals MVP award, while George Diamante once again clinched another Defensive Player of the Year award and All-Defensive Team. After the tournament, head coach Allen Ricardo was named the interim coach of the Letran Knights. Two months later, Ricardo was officially named head coach of the Knights, while former PBA player and alumnus Willie Miller was tasked to mentor the Squires.




Season-by-season records






= Pre-Final Four era

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= Final Four era

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Notes:




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Letran Squires basketball
• NCAA Season 99 basketball tournaments
• 2024 Letran Knights basketball team
• NCAA Season 98 basketball tournaments
• Colegio de San Juan de Letran
• Letran Knights, Lady Knights and Squires
• Letran Knights basketball
• Boyet Bautista
• NCAA Season 100 basketball tournaments
• NCAA basketball championships (Philippines)