NU Pep Squad retains UAAP Cheerdance Competition title

The National University Pep Squad retained the UAAP Cheerdance Competition title at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum with a flawless, Native American-inspired routine that dazzled the crowd of over 22,000 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

NU earned 677.5 points, more than enough to hold off the strong challenge of the the UP Pep Squad, who garnered 658 points with their “equality” theme to finish first runner-up for the second straight year.

Second runner-up was the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe with 625 points.

Proving its win in last year’s competition was no fluke, the NU Pep Squad also took home the top purse of P340,000 in becoming the first school to complete a back-to-back romp since UP Pep Squad did the trick in 2011, the second title in its three-year reign.

“Parehas pa rin ‘yung system pero mas mahirap ‘yung training. Syempre nag-champion kami last year so ‘yung pressure andu’n. Kailangan talaga naming mag-double time sa training ngayon,” beamed a visibly proud NU Pep Squad coach Ghicka Bernabe.

“Sobrang creative ng mga coaches namin at ‘yung gusto nila makaka-relate ‘yung audience namin. Indians kasi strong, palaban. On the other side, may mga Indians na happy. Like ‘yung last part namin,” said graduating skipper Precious Chavez.

The Diliman-based dancers, who performed with a theme of gender equality, came in at second overall with 658 points, bagging a cash prize of P200,000. Completing the podium finishers is the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, which broke a three-year medal drought by bagging the third place with 625 points and a purse of P140,000, thanks to its Chinese-inspired routine.

Meanwhile, FEU finally reigned supreme after four years in the group stunts event with a score of 258.5 points, enough to earn the top purse of P25,000. Coming in second was UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe with 251 points followed by last year’s champion NU Pep Squad with 239.5.

The complete scores of all eight teams:

1. NU 677.5
2. UP 658
3. UST 625
4. Adamson 600
5. FEU 599.5
6. La Salle 557
7. UE 503
8. Ateneo 494.5