NU bags 6th UAAP Cheerdance crown
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2019 12:32:16 +0000
They did it again.
Members of the National University Pep Squad claimed their back-to-back UAAP Cheerdance Competition crown in the annual event held on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With its almost flawless performance, the group swept the competition by bagging the top prize in the elite and group stunts category as well as special awards.
The Sampaloc-based squad tallied 722 points to secure its grip on the title, topping the stunts, tosses, pyramids and dance.
“We’re all very happy to celebrate this win because this is really what we came here for. The championship crown is the mere result of everyone’s hard work, dedication and faith in the team,” Head Coach Ghicka Bernabe told The Manila Times.
This year, NU came out with a Philippine pride theme with eye-catching costumes and sarimanok-inspired props.
The FEU Cheering Squad took the second spot with 706 points, followed by the Adamson Pep Squad with 658.5 points.
UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe placed fourth with 650 points, followed by UE Pep Squad with 645 points and UP Pep Squad with 622.5 points.
Bernabe said their “winning formula” placed the NU Pep Squad on the spotlight once more.
“It’s a big factor that we (coaches) worked together when we were still cheerleaders in college because we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” she said.
“There’s no perfect coaching staff and what’s good about ours is that we complete the puzzle. Others’ weaknesses are the strengths of the others. So I think that’s the winning formula. We’re just fit for each other,” Bernabe added.
The head coach also noted the importance of exposing their cheer dancers in basketball games.
Only NU allows its cheerleading team to perform during UAAP games.
“[I]nstead of keeping them at the school gym, it’s better to expose them so that they get used to the response of the people whenever they perfectly accomplish the routine or whenever they don’t since we cannot avoid the crowd from boo-ing when the team falls. That’s what we want them to prepare for—worst scenarios—so that they’ll be ready for any competition,” Bernabe explained.
“There are even times when we ‘boo’ them so we’ll know how they will react when people do that. Sometimes we act like their friends, sometimes their enemies also,” she added.
EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ