San Juan Knights

San Juan Knights
Leagues	MBA (1999–2001) MPBL (2018–present) Filbasket (2021–present)
Founded	1999
History	San Juan Knights 1999–2000 Andok's–San Juan Knights 2001 San Juan Knights–Go For Gold 2018–2021 San Juan Knights–GFG AICC 2021–present
Arena	Filoil Flying V Centre
Capacity	5,500
Location	San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
Team colors
Main sponsor	Powerball Marketing & Logistics Corporation Almeria International Construction Corporation
Head coach	Randy Alcantara
Championships	2× MBA National Championship 2× MPBL North Division Champions 1× MPBL National Champions

The San Juan Knights, also known as the San Juan Knights–GFG AICC 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.

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]

Head coaches[]

• Philip Cezar

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL)[]

Current roster[]

San Juan Knights roster v t
Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 2 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 1998–08–17 G 3 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 1997–02–14 Philippines-Diliman F/C 5 Rodriguez, Larry (EP) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1983–05–05 PMI F 8 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) G 10 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Mapúa F 11 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1998–03–11 Letran G 15 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Mapúa G 22 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1996–04–03 C 27  (HG) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1984–12–21 G 29 Abundo, Alvin (EP) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1992–10–29 Centro Escolar C 34 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) San Sebastian	Head coach Assistant coach(es) Team manager Legend (C) Team captain (EP) Ex–Pro (HG) Homegrown Player (FF) Fil–Foreign Player Injured Roster

Head coaches[]

• (2018–present)

Notable players[]

MBA[]

MPBL[]

Season-by-season records[]

Records from the 2021 MPBL Invitational:

References[]