2019–20 San Juan Knights season

2019–20 San Juan Knights season
Division champions
Head coachRandy Alcantara
Results
Record26–4 (.867)
PlaceDivision: 1st (North)
Playoff finishNational finals
(lost vs. Davao Occidental, 1–3)
San Juan Knights seasons
← 2018–19
2022 →

The 2019–20 San Juan Knights season was the second season of the franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

The Knights entered the season as defending champions, and continuing their winning traditions by going undefeated in their first ten games. Eventually, they would clinch the top seed in the North Division with a record of 26–4. The twenty-six regular season wins is a record for most regular season wins in a single season, a record San Juan shares with the Davao Occidental Tigers this season and the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in 2023 and 2024.

The Knights began their playoff campaign with back-to-back sweeps against the Pasay Voyagers and Pampanga Giant Lanterns before meeting in the division finals against the Makati Super Crunch. The series was tied at 1–1 before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the season for one year. Once play resumed in 2021, San Juan would beat Makati by a 77-point lead to advance to the national finals against the rival Davao Occidental Tigers in a rematch of last season's series. Unfortunately for the Knights, they would lose the series this time around in four games, ending their title defense.[1]

The team played all of their home games this season at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Regular season

Standings

Pos Team
 Pld W L PCT GB Qualification
1 San Juan Knights 30 26 4 .867 — Playoffs
2 Manila Stars 30 25 5 .833 1
3 Makati Super Crunch 30 22 8 .733 4
4 Pampanga Giant Lanterns 30 21 9 .700 5
5 Bataan Risers 30 20 10 .667 6
Source: Standings
Rules for classification: 1) Wins; 2a) If two teams are tied, head-to-head match-up; 2b) If three or more teams are tied, head-to-head point quotient; 3) overall point quotient; 4) coin toss.

Schedule

2019–20 San Juan Knights season schedule
Game Date Opponent Score Location Record Recap
1 June 14 Bacoor City W 77–76 Strike Gymnasium 1–0
2 June 28 Pasay W 74–72 Filoil Flying V Centre 2–0
3 July 4 Rizal W 101–86 San Andres Sports Complex 3–0
4 July 10 Bacolod W 95–71 Olivarez College 4–0
5 July 18 Sarangani W 100–77 Batangas City Coliseum 5–0
6 July 23 Parañaque W 81–65 Caloocan Sports Complex 6–0
7 July 27 Bataan W 87–79 Ibalong Centrum for Recreation 7–0
8 August 5 Quezon City W 89–71 Filoil Flying V Centre 8–0
9 August 12 Nueva Ecija W 109–95 Filoil Flying V Centre 9–0
10 August 19 Cebu W 88–69 Cuneta Astrodome 10–0
11 August 23 General Santos L 91–97 Muntinlupa Sports Complex 10–1
12 September 2 Marikina W 87–73 Filoil Flying V Centre 11–1
13 September 13 Basilan W 89–86 Olivarez College 12–1
14 September 17 Pampanga W 102–97 Angeles University Foundation 13–1
15 September 23 Bulacan W 90–88 Filoil Flying V Centre 14–1
16 October 1 Bicol W 98–69 Muntinlupa Sports Complex 15–1
17 October 7 Batangas City L 88–93 Batangas State University 15–2
18 October 15 Valenzuela W 78–68 Caloocan Sports Complex 16–2
19 October 21 Muntinlupa W 91–63 Filoil Flying V Centre 17–2
20 November 5 Biñan City W 89–84 Alonte Sports Arena 18–2
21 November 9 Imus W 97–68 Batangas City Coliseum 19–2
22 November 25 Makati W 88–86 Makati Coliseum 20–2
23 November 29 Manila L 70–75 El Salvador City Gymnasium 20–3
24 January 6 Navotas W 112–95 San Andres Sports Complex 21–3
25 January 11 Pasig W 109–99 Filoil Flying V Centre 22–3
26 January 18 Davao Occidental W 84–65 University of Southeastern Philippines 23–3
27 January 23 Iloilo W 70–67 Ynares Sports Arena 24–3
28 January 31 Zamboanga L 64–69 Cuneta Astrodome 24–4
29 February 4 Caloocan W 111–88 Cuneta Astrodome 25–4
30 February 8 Mindoro W 114–68 Valenzuela Astrodome 26–4
Source: Schedule

Playoffs

Schedule

2020 San Juan Knights playoffs schedule
Round Game Date Opponent Score Location Series Recap
Division quarterfinals 1 February 15 Pasay W 75–74 Filoil Flying V Centre 1–0
2 February 20 Pasay W 74–67 Angeles University Foundation 2–0
Division semifinals 1 February 28 Pampanga W 86–84 Filoil Flying V Centre 1–0
2 March 4 Pampanga W 91–83 San Andres Sports Complex 2–0
Division finals 1 March 9 Makati W 76–60 Filoil Flying V Centre 1–0
2 March 11 Makati L 88–91 Filoil Flying V Centre[a] 1–1
3 March 10[b] Makati W 131–54 Subic Bay Gymnasium 2–1
National finals 1 March 17[b] Davao Occidental L 75–77 Subic Bay Gymnasium 0–1
2 March 18[b] Davao Occidental W 70–65 Subic Bay Gymnasium 1–1
3 March 20[b] Davao Occidental L 58–66 Subic Bay Gymnasium 1–2
4 March 21[b] Davao Occidental L 88–89 Subic Bay Gymnasium 1–3
Source: Schedule
Notes
  1. ^ Game 2 of the North Division finals was moved from its original venue (Makati Coliseum) due to the impending COVID-19 pandemic. The game was also played behind closed doors.
  2. ^ a b c d e Postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ^ Lozada, Bong (March 21, 2021). "'Payback' as Davao Occidental wins MPBL national title, tops San Juan in OT". Inquirer.net. Retrieved March 22, 2021.