NU Pep Squad bags UAAP cheerdance title

WORK it all out.

The National University Pep Squad clinched the championship of Season 85 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Cheerdance Competition (CDC) on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Staging a Zumba-inspired routine, the NU Pep Squad regained its champion title with 723 points, after finishing third last season.

The NU Pep Squad now has seven titles in the UAAP CDC, and it is close to matching the record of the University of Sto. Tomas and the University of the Philippines, which each have eight cheerdance championships.

The Far Eastern University Cheering Squad, which rocked a Francis Magalona-themed routine, failed to secure a back-to-back finish after it placed second next to NU Pep Squad. The FEU Cheering squad scored 719 points, a four-point difference from the NU Pep Squad. 

On the other hand, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe was back on the podium after placing third with a score of 640 points. The last time UST secured a podium finish was in 2017.

The NU Pep Squad scored 86.5 in tumbling, 92 in stunts, 90 in tosses, 95 in pyramids, 373.5 in dance, and had 14 points in deductions and penalties, according to the UAAP tally.

The NU Pep Squad will receive a P50,000 cash prize, while the FEU Cheering Squad and UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe will receive P30,000 and P20,000.

The UE Pep Squad placed fourth after its Pinoy-pop-themed performance. Adamson Pep Squad, which was the first runner-up in the last edition, fell to fifth place. For this season, AdU opened the dance floor with its reinvention-themed routine under the tune of Jennifer Lopez’s famous tracks. 

Meanwhile, the UP Pep Squad’s question mark-themed performance placed sixth in the competition, followed by DLSU Animo Squad’s Janet Jackson routine in seventh, and the ADMU Blue Eagles’ Ateneo Forever-themed stunts in last.

The NU Pep Squad also bagged three special awards: Sketchers Most Stylish Team, Biogenic Best Pyramid Award, and Silka Best Awra Dance Move Award. At the same time, FEU won the Palmolive Handa ang Ganda ng Hair Moment Award.