Beginnings

The Arellano Flaming Arrows won the Basketball Association of the Philippines-organized National Student's Championship in the 1970s.^[1] The Flaming Arrows, coached by Cholo Martin and led by Joey Loyzaga, defeated the De La Salle Green Archers in the 1983 National Intercollegiate Championship. In 2006, the Flaming Arrows were named into the Chiefs, in honor of Cayetano Arellano, the first Chief Justice of the Philippines and university's namesake.^[2]

NCRAA stint

In 2006, the Chiefs lost out to the St. Francis Doves in the NCRAA Finals. On the next year, they defeated the EAC Generals to win their first NCRAA title off the heroics of Gio Ciriacruz.^[3] The Chiefs then defeated the Doves in the next season's Finals.

In the 2009 campaign they were defeated by the Universal College Golden Dragons in the finals.^[4] Arellano sought to enter the NCAA in time for the 2009–10 season, but the association deferred in accepting new members.^[5] The NCAA instead invited three schools, including Arellano as guest teams.^[6]

Entry to the NCAA

The Chiefs ended up with the best record among the three guest teams. In 2014, led by Jio Jalalon and coach Jerry Codiñera, the Chiefs qualified to its first Finals appearance.^[7] They were swept by the four-time defending champions San Beda Red Lions.^[8] On the next year, the Chiefs missed the Final Four,^[9] but returned to the Finals in 2016. In a rematch of the 2014 Finals, the Chiefs were again swept by San Beda.^[10] Two years later, the Chiefs struggled on the floor and had a losing season. Codiñera resigned and replaced by Junjie Ablan.^[11]

On the next campaign the university rehired Cholo Martin as its new coach.^[12] Martin's best season came in the 2021 bubble season played in early 2022, where they were eliminated in the play-in tournament by the Perpetual Altas.^[13] The Chiefs missed the playoffs in 2022;^[14] Martin was fired and was replaced by Chico Manabat.^[15]