SBC booters topple Chiefs for NC crown

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda went on an attack mode early and shackled Arellano U on the other end as it hammered out a 2-0 victory to capture the 88th NCAA seniors football crown at the ASCOM field in Taguig City yesterday.

The Lions surprised the Chiefs by playing aggressive from the start with Niel Dorimon hitting his mark minutes before the halftime break.

San Beda foiled Arellano’s attempts to equalize in the second half before Miguel Caindec unleashed a goal of his own on the 85th minute to finish off the Chiefs.

The Lions thus completed a three-peat feat while clinching their 20th championship, one shy from tying the La Salle Archers, former league members, as the most titled football school.

San Beda coach Aries Caslib later lauded his wards for executing their game plan to near-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.

San Beda thus completed a golden double after its high school team nailed its first juniors crown in a decade a few days ago.

Arellano U’s Alvin Obero took home the Best Scorer award with a league-high eight goals but failed to step up when it mattered most. Other awardees for the Chiefs were Mark Baldo (Best Goalkeeper) and Kaiser Orcine (Best Defender).

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