San Beda shackles Arellano, cops NCAA football title

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda went on attack mode early and shackled Arellano U with a stifling defense to hammer out a 2-0 victory to clinch the 88th NCAA senior football crown in Taguig City.

Surprising the Chiefs by being aggressive from the start, the Lions finally hit the mark and scored thanks to Niel Dorimon's goal, one of the Mendiola-based booters clear attempts at score in the first half, just minutes before the halftime break.

San Beda slowed down and practically parked the bus majority of the second half before Miguel Caindec unleashed a goal of his own on the 85th minute to finish what was left with the Chiefs.

The Lions thus completed a three-peat feat while clinching their 20th championship, one shy of joining the La Salle Archers, former league members, as the most titled football school in the oldest league in the country today.

After winning the title, San Beda coach Aries Caslib said his team executed their game plan to perfection.

"That's the plan, to be aggressive on the ball, take all the opportunities we can get," said Caslib, a former national team mentor, in Filipino.

It was also a twin victory for San Beda as its high school team nailed its first juniors crown in a decade and a half a few days back.

Arellano U's Alvin Obero took home the Best Scorer award with a league-high eight goals but he couldn't come up on this one when it mattered most. Other awardees for the Chiefs were Mark Baldo (Best Goalkeeper) and Kaiser Orcine (Best Defender).

However, Arellano U's second place finish was its best performance since joining the league four years ago.