Arellano ends San Beda dynasty, cops 1st NCAA football title

MANILA, Philippines – Arellano University brought down league dynasty San Beda with a shock 2-0 victory Tuesday and clinching its first ever title in the 91st NCAA football tournament at the Rizal Football Field.

Charles Vincent Gamutan scored the first goal in the 33rd minute of the first half while Jumbeng Guinabang delivered the clincher in the 80th minute as the Chiefs completed a Cinderella finish by capturing their first title and ending the Red Booters' five-year title reign.

Guinabang ended up as the league MVP.

"It's the product of the all the team's hard work," said Arellano U coach Ravelo Saluria in Filipino.

Saluria said it helped the team that Arellano U constructed a football field with an accompanying athlete's dormitory in Lagro, Quezon City.

"We would like to thank the school for their all-out support and for giving us a football field to train," said Saluria.

It was Arellano U's second title of the season after reigning supreme in men's chess in the first semester last year.

"The whole Arellano University community is proud of what the team has accomplished," said Arellano U's Mancom representative Peter Cayco.

It was also a match that produced a lot of heroes, including goalie Jericho Desalisa, who made several gut-wrenching saves to help the Chiefs preserve the historic triumph.

San Beda, which has raked in a league-best 22 crowns, including the last five, missed the services of striker Connor Tacagni after he was assessed a second yellow card in their 2-1 win over Arellano U last Saturday that forged a one-game title clash.

It also didn't help that San Beda captain Matt Asong sat out due to injury.

In juniors' action, St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills came back from 1-3 down in the first half with a strong second half effort to eke out a 5-3 victory and seal the high school championship.