Flawless NU seals 1st UAAP Cheerdance title

By Josiah Albelda Posted Sep 15th 2013

It is, indeed, National University's time.


National University delivered a difficult and flawless performance to run away with the 2013 UAAP Cheerdance Competition crown before a wild and roaring crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday.


Flaunting its Arabian-themed routine, the NU Pep Squad scored 690.5 points to win its first ever title in an event that also set a crowd record at the venue with 20, 830 paying patrons.


NU completed a performance replete with difficult stunts and highlighted by one-handed lifts, three-level pyramids and sophisticated choreography to dethrone three-peat champion University of the Philippines.


"Hindi na namin ito papakawalan," said head coach Ghicka Bernabe. "We'll try our best na pang-hawakan 'to."


UP came out with yet another dazzling routine, but errors took its toll on the Diliman-based squad's four-peat bid as they surrendered the crown for the first time since 2009.


The so-called Pep Squad ng Bayan amassed 620.5 points to finish ahead of the De La Salle University Animo Squad, who returned to the top three with a flawlessly-executed performance that garnered them 596.5.


"Syempre, we are vying for a championship," shared UP skipper Lian Melegrito. "Hindi kami down because it's well-deserved for NU."


Last year's second-placer Far Eastern University, meanwhile, slipped out of the top three for the first time in history with 589.5 points even as Adamson University, University of the East, University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo de Manila University round out the rankings.


NU almost completed a clean sweep of the day's competitions by topping the Group Stunt contest. The Bulldogs were followed by FEU and UST, who finished second and third, respectively.


"I'm just glad na nakita ko silang lumaban," Bernabe added. "Hindi nila dinamdam yung injuries at ibinigay nila yung best nila for today's event."


It has been an amazing 12 months for the Sampaloc-based crew, who placed third in the 2012 UAAP Cheerdance Competition before.