San Juan Knights

The San Juan Knights, also known as the San Juan Knights–Go For Gold and previously as the Andok's San Juan–Knights, are a professional basketball team in the Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1999 to 2001 and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League since 2018. The team enjoyed considerable success, winning the MBA National Championship in 2000 and the MBA first phase conference in 2001. They played their home games at the PhilSports Arena in 1999 to early 2000, the San Juan Gym in 2000, and in the Filoil Flying V Centre since 2018.

San Juan Knights
2019–20 San Juan Knights season
LeaguesMBA (1999–2001)
MPBL (2018–present)
Founded1999
HistorySan Juan Knights
1999–2000
Andok's–San Juan Knights
2001
San Juan Knights-Go For Gold
2018–present
ArenaFiloil Flying V Centre
Capacity5,500
LocationSan Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
Team colors     
Main sponsorPowerball Marketing & Logistics Corporation
Head coachRandy Alcantara
Championships2× MBA National Championship
1× MPBL North Division Champions
1× MPBL National Champions
San Juan Knights
LeaguesChooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3
Founded2019 (2019)
LocationSan Juan, Philippines
Team colorsBlue, White

History

The San Juan team, owned by former San Juan Mayor and Philippine senator Jinggoy Estrada and businessman Sandy Javier, was accepted in the league's second season in 1999, along with two others; Surigao and Nueva Ecija. San Juan was called Knights in reference to the concepts of gallantry and bravery. During the pre-season, the team was able to snare 6-9 man-mountain Bonel Balingit from the PBA, offering him a three-year, P16 million contract. They also acquired playmaker and last year's member of the MBA mythical five - Gherome Ejercito, who was released by the Pampanga Dragons since San Juan was owned by Gherome's cousin Jinggoy Estrada. The other Knights includes Christian Calaguio, 1998 NCAA Most Valuable Player, and point guard Chito Victolero.

In April 2018, San Juan Knights returned to competitive basketball when it joined the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, a then-newly established regional basketball league.[1] In addition, the Knights was also known as San Juan Knights-Go for Gold powered by Big J Sports due to their sponsorship with Powerball Marketing & Logistics Corporation and its Go for Gold program along with Big J Sports; Big J was also sponsored another MPBL team, Navotas Clutch, with PMLC also already owns the Go for Gold Scratchers basketball team in the PBA Developmental League.

Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA)

MBA national championship

In the MBA's third season in 2000, the San Juan Knights captured the national title, they swept Laguna Lakers in the best-of-three semifinals and scored a 3–1 series victory over Manila Metrostars in the Northern Conference finals. For the national championship, the Knights defeated the Negros Slashers, four games to two, in the best-of-seven series.[2] The fifth game had a debris-throwing incident at the University of St.La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City. The Knights were way ahead, 87–65, with 11 minutes and 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter when play was stopped. The Negros Slashers conceded Game five, giving the San Juan Knights a 3–2 edge in the series with Game six to be held at San Juan's homecourt - San Juan Coliseum.[3]

Team Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Wins
San Juan 76888485W1044
Negros 75779089L912

Head coaches

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL)

Current roster
San Juan Knights roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 0 Jeruta, Aaron 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 1994–10–16
G 4 Wilson, John (EP) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1987–01–18 Jose Rizal
F/C 5 Rodriguez, Larry (EP) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1983–05–05 PMI
F 6 Reyes, Lester 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 1985–06–04
G 7 Wamar Jr., Orlan 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 1998–08–17
C 8 Parala, Michael Gierald 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 1988–03–04 Mapúa
SF 9 De Leon, Samboy (EP) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1992–03–09 Centro Escolar
F 11 Menguez, Christopher 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1995–02–12
F 16 Aquino, Art Patrick 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 1994–12–05
G/F 17 Cardona, Mark (EP) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1981–11–13 La Salle
G 18 Ayon, Rian Michael 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1992–12–08
G 19 Pelayo, Cedric David 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 1993–12–19 Mapúa
G 20 Rios, Jordan (HG) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1991–01–14 St. Clare
C 21 Cortes, Jam (EP) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1988–03–06 Letran
G 22 Clarito, Jhonard 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1996–04–03
F 24 Marquez, Joseph Mark (HG) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1991–02–18
G 26 Juniorisit, Carlos Edisane (FF) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 1984–02–21
C 27 Ubalde, Joseph (HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1984–12–21
F 28 Gabawan, Jamil Joseph 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 1990–03–19 Letran
Head coach
  • Randy Alcantara
Assistant coach(es)
  • TBA
Team manager
  • Jun Usman
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (EP) Ex–Pro
  • (HG) Homegrown Player
  • (FF) Fil–Foreign Player
  • Injured

Head coaches
  • Randy Alcantara (2018–present)

Notable players

MBA

MPBL

Season-by-season records
Records from the 2018 MPBL season:
Conf.Team nameElimination roundPlayoffs
FinishWLPCTStageResults
Datu CupSan Juan Knights3rd/26205.800First Round
Division Semifinals
Division Finals
National Finals		Won First Round vs. Navotas 2–0
Won Division Semifinals vs. Quezon City 2–0
Won Division Finals vs. Manila 2–1
Won MPBL Championship vs. Davao Occidental 3–2
Lakan Cup1st/31264.867First Round
Division Semifinals
Division Finals
National Finals		Won First Round vs. Pasay, 2–0
Won Division Semifinals vs. Pampanga, 2–0
Series tied vs. Makati, 1–1
TBD
Total elimination round469.8361 Division Finals appearances
Total playoffs113.7861 Finals appearance
Total franchise5712.8261 championships

References
  1. "Pagbabalik ng Knights — San Juan, pasok bilang expansion team sa MPBL". ABS-CBN Sports. April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  2. "San Juan bags national title". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  3. "Slashers conceded fifth game; Knights up, 3-2". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  4. Joble, Rey (May 31, 2018). "San Juan looks forward to new rivalry with Manila in MPBL". FoxSports. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
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