Battle of Intramuros

The Battle of Intramuros is the rivalry between the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, and Mapúa University Cardinals, all three representing universities within walking distance from each other at Manila's Intramuros district. The rivalry is played at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines).

The rivalry is notable for the fact that, even though Letran performs better in league competition, they have never swept the elimination round meetings against their neighbors in recent years.

The Battle of Intramuros may also refer to the older rivalry between University of the Philippines Diliman (UP) and Ateneo de Manila, which first began on 1915 when UP and Ateneo played basketball games on Intramuros. Eventually, the rivalry died down and was revived when both schools competed in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. It is now called the "Battle of Katipunan," named after the avenue that connects Ateneo's new campus at Quezon City and UP, which transferred to Quezon City after the war.

Letran vs. Mapúa

Men's basketball results

The final four was instituted in 1997;^[1][2] prior to that the first and second round winners, plus the team with the best overall standing if it did not win either round, participated in the championship round to determine the champion.

The "Battle of Intramuros," which is so named because the two schools are three blocks apart from each other in Intramuros, is the name given to the Letran-Mapúa games. The Cardinals have had the mastery of the Knights in recent years. For eight consecutive years from 1998, Letran has failed to beat Mapúa in the eliminations rounds at least twice (either they will split the eliminations or Mapúa will win twice), even though the Knights were more successful in the league.^[3]

The Knights were finally able to beat Mapúa in the first round of the 2005 tournament,^[4] but the Cardinals avenged that loss in the second round when they dealt the Knights with their first and only defeat of the season. Letran Knights were on their way on scoring a rare a 14–0 sweep of the elimination round when they were stopped by the Mapúa Cardinals in their twelfth game of the eliminations^[5] Letran and Mapúa would split their games in subsequent seasons. In 2009 Letran finally end its 2nd-round losing streak against Mapúa and its first sweep against their Intramuros rivals in league history

Although the only instance where Letran and Mapúa met in the Finals was in the 1979 season where the Knights prevailed,^[6] the championship won by the Cardinals in 1981 (the games were suspended in the 1980 season due to the La Salle–Letran fracas) proved to be a spoiler once again as it denied Letran the bragging rights to the unprecedented honor of being the first ever NCAA team to win five consecutive seniors championships (Letran also won the 1982, 1983, and 1984 crowns), a feat that would later on be achieved by the San Sebastian Stags from 1993 to 1997.^[7]

Pre-Final Four era

Final Four era

Both teams are guaranteed to face each other at the elimination round (regular season) twice, while they can meet for a maximum of three times in the playoffs.

Final Four Rankings

For comparison, these are the rankings of these two teams since the Final Four format was introduced.

Seniors' division

Finished as the champion Finished as the 1st runner-up Finished as the 2nd runner-up Finished as the 3rd runner-up

Juniors basketball results

Juniors games between Letran and Mapúa have not been played under this label. While Letran's high school has always been at Intramuros, Mapúa's high schools have always been outside its walls, staying at the Santa Cruz district for most of its history, then the current Malayan High School of Science now being found at Pandacan.

Letran vs. Lyceum

Men's basketball results

Both teams are guaranteed to face each other at the elimination round (regular season) twice, while they can meet for a maximum of three times in the playoffs.

Final Four Rankings

For comparison, these are the rankings of these two teams since the Final Four format was introduced.

Seniors' division

Finished as the champion Finished as the 1st runner-up Finished as the 2nd runner-up Finished as the 3rd runner-up

Juniors basketball results

Juniors games between Letran and Lyceum have not been played under this label. While Letran's high school has always been at Intramuros, Lyceum's high school teams are represented by its Cavite campus.

Lyceum vs. Mapúa

Men's basketball results

Both teams are guaranteed to face each other at the elimination round (regular season) twice, while they can meet for a maximum of three times in the playoffs.

Final Four Rankings

For comparison, these are the rankings of these two teams since the Final Four format was introduced.

Seniors' division

Finished as the champion Finished as the 1st runner-up Finished as the 2nd runner-up Finished as the 3rd runner-up

Juniors basketball results

Juniors games between Lyceum and Mapúa have not been played under this label. Lyceum's high school teams are represented by its Cavite campus, while Mapúa is represented by the Malayan High School of Science, which is located in Pandacan, Manila