MANILA, Philippines – For the eighth time in UAAP history, the legendary NU Pep Squad captured the coveted Cheerdance Championship with a breathtaking outer space theme this Season 87 at the packed Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, December 1.
With their latest win that garnered 713 points, the Jhocson-based athletes have now won eight of the last 11 competitions, tying longtime first-placers UST Salinggawi Troupe and UP Pep Squad for the all-time best record in just a decade’s time.
Making a return to the podium after a two-year wait, the Adamson Pep Squad rose to first runner-up with their karaoke-themed performance, coming just one step away from its first championship since 2017 with 679.5 points.
Season 86 champion FEU Cheering Squad completed the top three as the second runner-up with 650 points, staying on the podium despite being knocked down two pegs after an imaginative, but error-filled routine inspired by the Disney massive film hit series Frozen.
Determined to bounce back from last year’s first runner-up finish, NU came out guns blazing as always, wowing the 19,121 fans in attendance with its trademark high-risk, high-reward routine, highlighted with an incredible propeller-like move atop two pyramids and many other gravity-defying stunts.
The championship marks a historic first for head coach Gabriel Bajacan, who led NU to its first title past the Ghicka Bernabe era that included all prior seven CDC championship wins.
The UE Pep Squad finished with 641 points in fourth place following a Sexbomb-themed routine, complete with group star member Rochelle Pangilinan in attendance.
Former podium mainstay UST slipped to fifth with 634.5 points, while fellow eight-time champion UP stayed at sixth with 560 points.
Perennial bottom-dwellers La Salle and Ateneo completed the pack with another pair of seventh and eighth-place finishes, with 525 and 490 points, respectively. – Rappler.com