2019–20 San Juan Knights season

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

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
2022 →

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.

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

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Standings

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PosTeamPldWLPCTGBQualification
1San Juan Knights30264.867Playoffs
2Manila Stars30255.8331
3Makati Super Crunch30228.7334
4Pampanga Giant Lanterns30219.7005
5Bataan Risers302010.6676
Source: Standings
Rules for classification: 1) Win percentage; 2) Head-to-head record; 3) Head-to-head point differential; 4) Head-to-head points scored; 5) Overall point differential; 6) Overall points scored.

Schedule

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2019–20 San Juan Knights season schedule
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecordRecap
1June 14Bacoor CityW 77–76Strike Gymnasium1–0
2June 28PasayW 74–72Filoil Flying V Centre2–0
3July 4RizalW 101–86San Andres Sports Complex3–0
4July 10BacolodW 95–71Olivarez College4–0
5July 18SaranganiW 100–77Batangas City Coliseum5–0
6July 23ParañaqueW 81–65Caloocan Sports Complex6–0
7July 27BataanW 87–79Ibalong Centrum for Recreation7–0
8August 5Quezon CityW 89–71Filoil Flying V Centre8–0
9August 12Nueva EcijaW 109–95Filoil Flying V Centre9–0
10August 19CebuW 88–69Cuneta Astrodome10–0
11August 23General SantosL 91–97Muntinlupa Sports Complex10–1
12September 2MarikinaW 87–73Filoil Flying V Centre11–1
13September 13BasilanW 89–86Olivarez College12–1
14September 17PampangaW 102–97Angeles University Foundation13–1
15September 23BulacanW 90–88Filoil Flying V Centre14–1
16October 1BicolW 98–69Muntinlupa Sports Complex15–1
17October 7Batangas CityL 88–93Batangas State University15–2
18October 15ValenzuelaW 78–68Caloocan Sports Complex16–2
19October 21MuntinlupaW 91–63Filoil Flying V Centre17–2
20November 5Biñan CityW 89–84Alonte Sports Arena18–2
21November 9ImusW 97–68Batangas City Coliseum19–2
22November 25MakatiW 88–86Makati Coliseum20–2
23November 29ManilaL 70–75El Salvador City Gymnasium20–3
24January 6NavotasW 112–95San Andres Sports Complex21–3
25January 11PasigW 109–99Filoil Flying V Centre22–3
26January 18Davao OccidentalW 84–65University of Southeastern Philippines23–3
27January 23IloiloW 70–67Ynares Sports Arena24–3
28January 31ZamboangaL 64–69Cuneta Astrodome24–4
29February 4CaloocanW 111–88Cuneta Astrodome25–4
30February 8MindoroW 114–68Valenzuela Astrodome26–4
Source: Schedule

Playoffs

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Schedule

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2020 San Juan Knights playoffs schedule
RoundGameDateOpponentScoreLocationSeriesRecap
Division Quarterfinals1February 15PasayW 75–74Filoil Flying V Centre1–0
2February 20PasayW 74–67Angeles University Foundation2–0
Division Semifinals1February 28PampangaW 86–84Filoil Flying V Centre1–0
2March 4PampangaW 91–83San Andres Sports Complex2–0
Division Finals1March 9MakatiW 76–60Filoil Flying V Centre1–0
2March 11MakatiL 88–91Filoil Flying V Centre[a]1–1
3March 10[b]MakatiW 131–54Subic Bay Gymnasium2–1
National Finals1March 17[b]Davao OccidentalL 75–77Subic Bay Gymnasium0–1
2March 18[b]Davao OccidentalW 70–65Subic Bay Gymnasium1–1
3March 20[b]Davao OccidentalL 58–66Subic Bay Gymnasium1–2
4March 21[b]Davao OccidentalL 88–89Subic Bay Gymnasium1–3
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

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  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.