The Knights have been one of more successful home-and-away basketball teams in the country. Across both incarnations, the Knights have clinched three championships: two in the MBA (2000 and 2001 – First Phase) and one in the MPBL (2019). The Knights also made the MPBL's Division Finals four times in a row from 2019 to 2023, and the MPBL Finals in back-to-back seasons (2019 and 2021). As of 2023, San Juan holds the highest overall regular season winning percentage for any active team in the MPBL at .760, and the most playoff wins of any MPBL team at 25.
History
First incarnation (1999–2001)
The San Juan Knights were founded in 1999 by then-mayor and current senator Jinggoy Estrada and businessman Sandy Javier. The team entered the Metropolitan Basketball Association as an expansion team for the league's 1999 season alongside the Surigao Miners and Nueva Ecija Patriots.
During the playoffs of the 2000 season, San Juan first swept the Laguna Lakers, 2–0, in the Northern Conference Semifinals and went past the Manila Metrostars, 3–1, in the Northern Conference Finals, bringing the Knights to the 2000 MBA National Championship. Game 5 of the championship series against the Negros Slashers had a debris-throwing incident at the La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, as the Knights were way ahead, 87–65, with 11:38 left in the fourth quarter when play was stopped. The Negros Slashers conceded game 5, giving the San Juan Knights a 3–2 heading into game 6.[1] San Juan would go on to win their first of back-to-back MBA championships.[2]
Team
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Wins
San Juan
76
88
84
85
W
104
4
Negros
75
77
90
89
L
91
2
Second incarnation (2018–present)
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
In April 2018, San Juan Knights were revived as an expansion team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.[3] The return of the Knights brought in names such as Mark Cardona and John Wilson. The team finished its inaugural season with a 20–5 record and clinched the third seed in the playoffs. In the playoffs, San Juan swept both Navotas and Quezon City, and won 2–1 against Manila to advance to the 2019 MPBL Finals against the Davao Occidental Tigers. The series went all the way to a game 5 as San Juan won its first MPBL championship and the third overall in franchise history.
Pilipinas Super League
After the conclusion of the 2022 MPBL season, San Juan made their debut in the Pilipinas Super League, under the name San Juan Kings. In the 2022–23 DUMPER Cup, the team went undefeated in the regular season, winning all 15 games. After beating Manila in the Quarterfinals, the Kings met the Baltazar-led Pampanga G Lanterns in the Semifinals. Unfortunately, San Juan would lose to the G Lanterns in two games.
Team identity
The name Knights was chosen in reference to the concepts of gallantry and bravery.
Season-by-season records
This is a list of seasons completed by San Juan in the MPBL. For the full season-by-season history and other league records, see List of San Juan Knights seasons.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning percentage
San Juan plays their home games at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in the MPBL and PSL. During their time in the MBA, they have played in the PhilSports Arena from 1999 to early 2000 and the San Juan Gym in 2000.
