UAAP 87: NU reclaims cheerdance crown with dominating ‘out of this world’ routine

Metro Manila, Philippines — The National University (NU) Pep Squad reclaimed cheerdance glory after winning the UAAP Season 87 Cheerdance Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday Dec. 1.

The NU Bulldogs got a hold of its eighth championship in cheerdance, tying with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and the University of the Philippines (UP) with the winningest titles in UAAP history.

Team co-captain Vigie Calleja said their journey to the championship was hard and challenging. NU's last title was 2022.

"May mga na-line up na pero na-injure pa. Lahat 'yon nagfa-flashback sa amin ngayon, 'yong hirap namin sa training ‘yung conditioning namin," Calleja told a news conference.

[Translation: There were members who were already lined up for the competition but were injured. All of the challenges came as a flashback, our hard training, our conditioning.]

"Sobrang thankful and grateful kami sa coaches and managers kasi hanggang dulo nagtiwala sila sa amin na magagawa namin 'yung napakagandang routine na pinerformn namin kanina," she said.

[Translation: We are thankful and grateful to our coaches and managers because until the very end, they trusted us that we can do the routine.]

NU went "out of this world" to cap their galaxy-themed performance with 713 points, garnering all the top points in cheerdance elements.

It might not be the best run for his eyes, the team's coach Gabriel Bajacan admitted he already saw it during practice when the team made the first complete run of the piece.

"Coming in dito, feeling namin hindi kami pang-champion na kalibre. ‘Yung ginawa naming performance kanina sa run-through hanggang sa competition hindi pa rin kami nasa-satisfy," Bajacan told reporters.

[Translation: Coming in we felt that we did not have a championship caliber. We were not satisfied with our performance frum run-through to the competition.]

"Pero 'yong hinihihingi naming energy, 'yong kailangang attitude nila dito sa mats napakita naman nila," he said.

[Translation: But the energy and attitude that we want from them were shown on the mats.]

Bajacan said the coaches are already thinking of preparing for the next season.

Adamson University (AdU) Pep Squad was awarded the silver medal with their karaoke diva-esque routine during this year's showdown.

The Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad completed the podium, settling in a bronze finish as they took out the elements of their performance from the Disney animated film "Frozen." The FEU Tamaraws were last year's champion.

"We need to work more on our consistency, I guess," FEU head coach Randell San Gregorio said. "Kailangan i-reevaluate ang nangyari [we need to reevaluate what happened] this season."

"Ano man ang mga kulang, sana ma-figure out namin 'yon, pero as far as the program is concerned, okay naman," he added.

[Translation: I hope we figure out what is lacking but as far as the program is concerned, it's still okay.]

The University of the East Pep Squad ranked fourth with their Sexbomb-inspired piece, followed by the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, and the UP Varsity Pep Squad.

The De La Salle University Animo Squad and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles finished seventh and eighth, respectively.