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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Jonathan 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.
The Squires were ready to defend their title once again. In the eliminations, the Squires clinched a playoff berth after defeating the Arellano Braves in the second round. But the Perpetual Junior Altas denied them of first seed. In the playoffs, the La Salle Green Hills Greenies forced a deciding Game 2 against the Squires. On the next game, Daniel Padilla missed a buzzer beater to deny a third consecutive Finals appearance for the Squires. After the season, Willie Miller stepped down as Squires' head coach due to a policy from Converge FiberXers of the PBA, which prohibits any member of their coaching staff from concurrently holding a head coaching position with another team. However, Letran officials retained him as team consultant. Later on, Letran hired former UE Junior Warriors mentor Andrew Estrella as the new head coach for the Squires. Letran standouts Basti Reyes and Daniel Padilla then committed to join the Mapúa Cardinals for their collegiate career, while Mythical team member Jhuniel Dela Rama committed to join the San Sebastian Stags.
In 2025, the Squires finished the eliminations with 7 wins and 6 losses to become the 2nd seed in Group B and earned the twice-beat-advantage in the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals the Squires defeated the defending champions Perpetual Junior Altas in two games to advanced in the Final Four and face the EAC Brigadiers. The Squires needed three games to oust the Brigadiers and advanced to the Finals. In the Finals, the Squires swept the Arellano Braves to capture their 15th NCAA championship. Justin Cargo was named NCAA Finals MVP, and head coach Andrew Estrella was the Head Coach of the Year.
NCAA Season 101
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