The Arellano University Chiefs is the athletic team of Arellano University. It is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA). The team has several intercollegiate varsity sports teams for women and men at Arellano.
Originally as the Arellano Flaming Arrows, the team won the National Student's Championship (NSC) in the 1970s. Years later, the Chiefs entered the best-of-three finals in the men's basketball division of the NCRAA in 2006 when they were defeated by the Saint Francis of Assisi College Doves. In a repeat finals appearance in 2007, head coach Leo Isaac finally led the Chiefs to the championship with a 67–64 game three win against the EAC Generals. The Chiefs relied on their defense to stop EAC's Ronjay Buenafe, while supporters of the rival teams had to be restrained inside the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The then Baby Chiefs also defeated the Olivarez College juniors team in their own title series to ensure both NCRAA basketball titles would go to their Juan Sumulong Campus.
In 2008, the Chiefs reigned anew against 2006 tormentor St. Francis in two games., while the Baby Chiefs also swept the Dovelets in juniors' competition to keep both basketball trophies. The Chiefs' NCRAA championship caused their qualification to the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship for basketball. In the PCC, they defeated UCN Golden Dragons in the first round, but they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by three-peat NCAA champions San Beda Red Lions.
The Chiefs were able to qualify anew for the 2009 NCRAA finals, but they were defeated by upstarts Universal College Golden Dragons in overtime to deny the Chiefs of a third consecutive championship, while the Baby Chiefs were luckier as they defeated the Rizal Technological University Baby Thunders to clinch their third consecutive championship.
The Chiefs are also the reigning three-time Fr. Martin Cup champions, their last championship coming in 2009 against Philippine Merchant Marine School.
With the departure of Philippine Christian University (PCU) Dolphins after exposure of several juniors' players enrolling with forged documents, the NCAA originally opened its doors for new members, and Arellano was one of the schools that lodged their application. Arellano was named as one of the frontrunners, but the NCAA Policy Board fail to garner enough number of votes to admit a new member which closed the doors for new members for their 2009–10 season.
However, the NCAA invited "guest teams" instead, and Arellano, along with the AUF Great Danes and fellow NCRAA member EAC Generals were accepted as guest teams for the 2009–10 season, where they are also eligible to win championships.
The Chiefs finished their 2009 campaigned fifth, the best among the guest teams, with an 8–10 record. At the end of the tournament, Giorgio Ciriacruz was named as part of the Mythical Five (all-NCAA team), the only player from a guest team to be named in the five-member roster.
On the NCAA Season 86, Arellano has upgraded from its guest to probationary status. While on the Season 87 of NCAA, Isiah Ciriacruz won't play for the season due to a sustained injury and Adrian Celada was named as team captain. And the school grab its regular membership on the league during the 89th Season.[]