Perpetual, Arellano rule NCAA beach volley (4:21 p.m.)

MANILA -- Arellano University stopped Perpetual Help’s bid to sweep the beach volleyball crowns in the 86th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after the duo of Chris Salvador and John Lozada wrested the men’s championship title on Sunday.

The school’s Cinderella finish was realized before fans at the La Salle-Greenhills sand court after Arellano put the cuffs on Perpetual Help’s Ralph Sevillano and Jay dela Cruz, 21-12, 21-17.

The stunning victory can be considered as one for the books in the oldest collegiate league in the country as Arellano managed to snare the beach volley title a year after the school formally joined the NCAA.

And it came via an impressive 10-game sweep.

“We’re really happy because this is our school’s first title since joining the NCAA last year,” said Salvador, a 21-year-old Hotel and Restaurant Management student who was named Most Valuable Player.

The Sherwin Meneses-mentored Chiefs entered the finals after routing St. Benilde’s Chad de Castro and Jayson Abraham, 21-10, 21-10.

The Legarda-based school also became the second team to win a title this season after St. Benilde lorded it over the field in the seniors’ chess competition a couple of weeks back.

“We’re proud of their accomplishment,” said Peter Cayco, Arellano U’s Management Committee member.

The women’s crown, on the other hand, fell to the lap of Altas for another year as Keshia de Luna and April Sartin nipped Letran’s Gena Andaya and Manel Carolino, 21-19, 21-18. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)