By Frances Gutierrez
The reign of the University of the Philippines in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition has been punctuated by the National University as the latter emerged as this year’s champion in the said event held at the Mall of Asia Arena that was packed with a crowd of more than 20,000.
A first-timer in bringing home the crown and last year’s third placer, the NU Pep Squad won the judges over with a flawless Arabian-inspired performance that prevented the UP Pep Squad from making a “four-peat.”
The reign of the University of the Philippines in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition has been punctuated by the National University as the latter emerged as this year’s champion in the said event held at the Mall of Asia Arena that was packed with a crowd of more than 20,000.
A first-timer in bringing home the crown and last year’s third placer, the NU Pep Squad won the judges over with a flawless Arabian-inspired performance that prevented the UP Pep Squad from making a “four-peat.”
Despite errors in its major pyramid stunts, the UP Pep Squad, who brought a party to the arena, finished as this year’s second placer and still tied with the University of Santo Tomas as the holders of the most number of titles.
The DLSU Animo Squad continued to show the inner fighter in them as last year’s “boxers” were turned into “soldiers” with their military-themed routine that got them into rising to the third spot from a fifth in the league’s previous season.
NU garnered 695.5 points; UP 620.5; and DLSU 596.5.
The FEU Cheering Squad went down two places from being the second last year as their performance which offered futuristic vibes was not enough to give them a spot in the top three.
A burlesque-themed performance by the Adamson Pep Squad was not successful in making the team grab a title but was able to have the Falcons’ team finished as a fifth placer.
The dance floor was also heated up by the University of the East Pep Squad but its fiery routine could only improve the team’s previous last-placer ranking to a sixth.
After having claimed the fourth spot for two straight years, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, that gave the crowd the Egyptian feels, dipped a notch to being the seventh, its worst finish, in the competition.
Another squad that suffered a decline, last year’s sixth placer, the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion whose routine has sports as a theme, finished last.
The Bulldogs, who currently rules in all basketball divisions, also claimed the top spot in the Group Stunt competition. The Far Eastern University and the University of Santo Tomas ended second and third, respectively.
