2017 Letran Knights basketball team

The 2017 Letran Knights men's basketball team represented Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 93rd season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines. The men's basketball tournament for the school year 2017-18 began on July 8, 2017, and the host school for the season was San Sebastian College–Recoletos.^[1]

2017 Letran Knights men's basketball
Record
Elims rank	#5
Final rank	#5
2017 record	9–9
Head coach	Jeff Napa (2nd season)
Assistant coaches	Leo Pujante Jay Agleron Chico Manabat Robert Joseph Guevarra Kerby Raymundo
Captain	Rey Nambatac (5th season)
Seasons ← 2016 2018 →

The Knights finished the double round-robin eliminations tied with the Arellano Chiefs and San Sebastian Stags at fourth to sixth-place finish with 9 wins against 9 losses.^[2] The Knights underwent a series of classification matches to determine the fourth-seeded team. The Knights then defeated the Chiefs,^[3] but faltered against the Stags.^[4] The Knights then missed the Final Four playoffs for two consecutive seasons.^[4]

Roster

Letran Knights roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Year High School C 5   Pamulaklakin, Christian Paul M. 6'6" (1.98m) 1st – G 6   Nambatac, Rey Benedict C. (C) 5'11" (1.8m) 5th Colegio de San Juan de Letran G 7   Balanza, Jerrick G. 6'2" (1.88m) 3rd Colegio de San Juan de Letran G 8   Calvo, John Paul 6'0" (1.83m) 4th Hua Siong College of Iloilo G 11   Bernabe, Maui Matthew 5'9" (1.75m) 3rd University of the East G 12   Taladua, Jeremiah 5'10" (1.78m) 3rd – G 13   Gedaria, Tommy York 5'9" (1.75m) 2nd Colegio de San Juan de Letran C 14   Pascual, Daryl Louie 6'6" (1.98m) 1st Arellano University C 15   Balagasay, Christian 6'5" (1.96m) 3rd Northridge Montessori School C 17   De Villa, Joshua Nicholas P. 6'6" (1.98m) 1st YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College F 18   Ambohot, Jeo 6'5" (1.96m) 2nd Agro Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines G 19   Quinto, Kier John 6'0" (1.83m) 4th Colegio de San Juan de Letran C 20   Vacaro, Lance Juviel 6'5" (1.96m) 1st St. Benedict College of Cotabato F 24   Mandreza, Alexander S. 6'4" (1.93m) 1st Del Monte National High School F 27   Caralipio, King Deniell 6'3" (1.91m) 2nd San Pedro High School G Reserve   Pambid, Gay Lord Jap 6'1" (1.85m) – – G Reserve   Villanueva, Jerick – – Bani National High School	Head coach Jeff Napa Assistant coach(es) Leo Pujante Jay Agleron Chico Manabat Robert Joseph Guevarra Kerby Raymundo Team manager Waiyip Chong Bonnie Tan Legend (C) Team captain   Injured

Depth chart

Pos.	Starting 5	Bench 1	Bench 2
C	Balagasay	Mandreza	Pascual
PF	Ambohot	Caralipio	De Villa
SF	Quinto	Taladua	Pamulaklakin
SG	Nambatac	Balanza	Vacaro
PG	Calvo	Gedaria	Bernabe

Roster changes

Most of the key players from Season 91 championship team have left the team, namely Jom Sollano, McJour Luib, and Felix Apreku.^[5] Holdovers were Rey Nambatac, Bong Quinto, Jerrick Balanza, and JP Calvo. Added to the roster was Jeremiah Taladua, transferee from Lyceum of the Philippines University. Taladuah played in the NCAA for the Pirates last 2013 & 2014 seasons.^[5]

Injuries

• Jeo Ambohot suffered a fracture on his right wrist during the game against San Sebastian Stags. Ambohot received a hard foul from Stags forward JM Calma and landed badly on his right wrist.^[6]

NCAA Season 93 games results

Further information: NCAA Season 93 basketball tournaments

Elimination games were played in a double round-robin format. All games were aired on ABS-CBN Sports and Action.

Date	Time	Opponent	Venue	Result	Record
First round of eliminations
Jul 11	4:00 p.m.	Mapúa Cardinals	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 75–78	0–1
Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 15; Rebounds: Ambohot – 12; Assists: Calvo – 4
Jul 18	12:00 p.m.	EAC Generals	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 83–80	1–1
Game Highs: Points: Ambohot – 15; Rebounds: Nambatac – 9; Assists: Nambatac, Quinto – 5
Jul 21	2:00 p.m.	JRU Heavy Bombers	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 62–65	1–2
Game Highs: Points: Quinto – 16; Rebounds: Ambohot Calvo, Quinto – 6; Assists: Ambohot, Calvo, Nambatac – 2
Jul 25	4:00 p.m.	San Beda Red Lions	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 74–81	1–3
Game Highs: Points: Balanza – 20; Rebounds: Quinto – 15; Assists: Balanza, Calvo, Quinto – 2
Aug 1	2:00 p.m.	Arellano Chiefs	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 82–75	2–3
Game Highs: Points: Ambohot, Nambatac – 15; Rebounds: Ambohot – 13; Assists: Nambatac – 5
Aug 3	4:00 p.m.	Benilde Blazers	Letran Gym • Manila	W 92–78	3–3
Game Highs: Points: Nambatac – 31; Rebounds: Ambohot – 12; Assists: Quinto – 7
Aug 11	4:00 p.m.	Perpetual Altas	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 63–61	4–3
Game Highs: Points: Quinto – 14; Rebounds: Nambatac – 15; Assists: Nambatac, Quinto – 3
Aug 15	4:00 p.m.	San Sebastian Stags	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 79–75^OT	5–3
Game Highs: Points: Nambatac – 23; Rebounds: Nambatac – 14; Assists: Calvo – 8
Aug 18	2:00 p.m.	Lyceum Pirates	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 68–75	5–4
Game Highs: Points: Nambatac – 16; Rebounds: Caralipio, Quinto – 7; Assists: Quinto – 4
4th place after the 1st round (5 wins–4 losses)
Second round of eliminations
Sep 7	2:00 p.m.	Perpetual Altas	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 82–88	5–5
Game Highs: Points: Calvo – 21; Rebounds: Nambatac – 12; Assists: Balanza – 4
Sep 14	2:00 p.m.	JRU Heavy Bombers	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 68–77	5–6
Game Highs: Points: Calvo – 21; Rebounds: Quinto – 12; Assists: Nambatac – 4
Sep 19	4:00 p.m.	Arellano Chiefs	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 84–73	6–6
Game Highs: Points: Calvo, Quinto – 20; Rebounds: Quinto – 10; Assists: Calvo – 5
Sep 22	4:00 p.m.	Mapúa Cardinals	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 88–79	7–6
Game Highs: Points: Nambatac – 25; Rebounds: Nambatac, Quinto – 8; Assists: Quinto – 3
Sep 26	2:00 p.m.	San Sebastian Stags	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 64–95	7–7
Game Highs: Points: Quinto – 14; Rebounds: Balagasay – 7; Assists: Nambatac – 4
Sep 29	2:00 p.m.	EAC Generals	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 84–78	8–7
Game Highs: Points: Quinto – 27; Rebounds: Nambatac – 9; Assists: Gedaria – 4
Oct 6	4:00 p.m.	Lyceum Pirates	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 69–81	8–8
Game Highs: Points: Calvo – 15; Rebounds: Nambatac – 15; Assists: Gedaria – 3
Oct 13	2:00 p.m.	San Beda Red Lions	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	L 68–73	8–9
Game Highs: Points: Quinto – 18; Rebounds: Ambohot – 11; Assists: Quinto – 4
Oct 17	4:00 p.m.	Benilde Blazers	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 66–60	9–9
Game Highs: Points: Nambatac – 18; Rebounds: Ambohot – 13; Assists: Nambatac – 5
Tied at 4th–6th place at 9 wins–9 losses (4 wins–5 losses in the 2nd round)
Qualification playoff
Oct 20	3:30 p.m.	Arellano Chiefs	Filoil Flying V Centre • San Juan	W 70–68	1–0 (10–9)
Game Highs: Points: Nambatac – 25; Rebounds: Nambatac – 9; Assists: Quinto – 4
Qualified for 4th–5th seeding
Playoff for fourth-seed
Oct 24	3:30 p.m.	San Sebastian Stags	Mall of Asia Arena • Pasay	L 70–68	0–1 (10–10)
Game Highs: Points: Taladua – 16; Rebounds: Ambohot – 12; Assists: Quinto – 7
Fifth place at 10 wins–10 losses (9 wins–9 losses in the eliminations)

Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

Source: Pong Ducanes, Imperium Technology

References

1. Murillo, Michael Angelo (July 7, 2017). "NCAA Season 93 kicks off". Business World Online. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
2. Jacinto, Christian (October 17, 2017). "Letran Knights survive scare from Benilde to stay in contention for Final Four spot". SPIN.ph. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
3. Isaga, JR (October 20, 2017). "Jeo Ambohot saves Letran, ousts Arellano in must-win thriller". Rappler. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
4. Cordero, Abac (October 24, 2017). "SSC ousts Letran, goes up vs JRU". Philippine Star. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
5. Naredo, Camille (July 5, 2017). "NCAA Season 93 Preview: Letran Knights". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
6. Jacinto, Christian (August 15, 2017). "Ambohot suffers setback as rising Letran star likely out two months due to wrist fracture". SPIN.ph. Retrieved April 13, 2022.