A CAVEMAN’s theme worked wonders as the National University (NU) Pep Squad ran away with its third consecutive University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Cheerdance Competition crown at a jampacked Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
Performing in an arena that NU calls its home, and against strong challenges from perennial contenders and former champions University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Season 78 host University of the Philippines (UP), the NU Pep Squad were relentless in pulling off the “three-peat” that is slowly building a dynasty for the formerly also-ran school. Before a record crowd of 25,388, the NU Pep Squad performed a scintillating routine in tumbling, stunts, tosses and pyramids for 658 points. They beat the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, who recorded 651.5 points for second place and the UP Pep Squad, which booked 610.5 points for third place.
“The theme is caveman, and we call it an NU era,” said coach Ghicka Bernabe, whose wards pocketed the P340,000 top prize in the competition that was introduced in the league 20 years ago.
NU, UST and UP also placed 1-2-3 last season.
“We changed our theme only a month ago. Of course, we don’t want to be similar to the others in the competition. And the result turned out just excellent and the crowd enjoyed it,” Bernabe added.
The NU Pep Squad, which had 15 rookies this season, became the third team after UST and UP to win three cheerdance crown.
The Bulldogs, however, teetered before the announcement of the winner. They fumbled in their difficult pyramid routine which cost them six points. But they were able to regroup late in the six-minute performance with their superb tosses and high-flying stunts.
“The rookies are lucky. They are blessed with the opportunity as three-peat champions,” NU team Manager Jun Gaw said.
The Tigers topped their specialty, the dance routine, but faltered in the tumbling and stunts category which caused them to miss the crown they last won in 2006.
“We were still blessed. We didn’t expect this year [to place second]. We were able to maximize the skills of our cheerdancers,” UST Coach Ramon Pagaduan said.
The Maroons capped an also near-flawless performance with a heart-shaped pyramid they built with a rock instrumental of their school hymn. But that wasn’t enough for the Diliman-based squad to stand atop the podium.
The Far Eastern University Pep Squad finished in fourth with 583.5, followed by University of the East Pep Squad (583), La Salle Animo Squad (538.5), Adamson University Pep Squad (513.5) and Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion (412).
As a consolation for UST, the Salinggawi dancers ruled the group stunts and grabbed the P25,000 prize, beating the Bulldogs and dethroning the Tamaraws in the process. The cheerdance competition is a part of a heavy UAAP weekend, which also features Sunday’s men’s basketball showdown between fierce rivals Ateneo and La Salle also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Image credits: Alysa Salen