NO 6-PEAT FOR ‘GAWI, SETTLES FOR 2nd

Of all the colors in the Big Dome that day, maroon stood out.

The University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe(SDT) failed to defend their UAAP Cheer Dance Competition championship title, as the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad brought home the title this year with a 0.5 margin in the scores, during the dance-off last September 16 at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

SDT, with a ‘retro’-theme came second with 92.16 points. The 5-peat champions for this year was dethroned by the UP Pep Squad who garnered 92. 66 with their rock-themed cheer dance. The Far Eastern University Pep Squad (FEUPS) came third with 91.66 and bagged P69,000 as prize.

The Espana-based dance troupe, choreographed by Ryan Silva, won the championship title five-straight times from 2002 to 2006.

Champs UP Pep Squad grabbed the championship in 2001. This year, they won a trophy and the top prize of P172,500, aside from clenching the thirst of the championship title.

This is the UP Pep Squad’s 4th championship title, after their 3-peat from 1999-2001. UST-SDT already won eight titles since the Cheer Dance Competition was established in 1995.

The five other schools were ranked as: Ateneo de Manila University Blue Bubble Battalion - 4th; Adamson University Pep Squad -5th; University of the East Pep Squad – 6th; De La Salle University Pep Squad -7th; National University Pep Squad - 8th.

The cheer dance was judged according to choreography (50%), synchronization (30 %), audience audibility (10 %) and costume(10 %).

** I wasn't able to grab a ticket for today's cheerdance competition because, at the first place, I prefer to watch it on television so that I can be able to watch the stunts and pyramids clearly. The first to perform was DLSU followed by UP, FEU, NU, AdU, UST, UE and ADMU. I would like to credit them all because they had really done a great job. I really enjoyed watching each team and it's as if I'm watching a professional cheerdance competition. Sadly, hindi namin nakuha yung 6 peat!...6 years consecutive championship na sana kaya lang we just reached the 2nd spot. It isn't bad after all..pero syempre mas okei yung 1st place.

UP made it to the top. Hindi ko masyadong nagustuhan yung cheerdance nila kasi black and maroon yung color nila and then medyo magulo na sa end part. Pero, infairness, ganda ng opening part nila and unique yung mga stunts na ginawa nila. Sa part naman ng UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (STD), I love their performance...it's soo cute! Especially the yellow wig retro style part. But then there was an error during the first pyramid stunt of the group. Yung isang girl hindi niya nabalance yung sarili niya habang pabuo na ng pyramid, so hindi nacomplete yung stunt...nung nahulog nga yung girl, super sigawan yung mga students sa crowd. Then, medyo nakulangan din ako sa performance nila..much simpler compared to last year. Ewan ko ba kung bakit ganon, pero maganda parin. After ko mapanood yung sa UST nafeel ko agad na we can't be able to defend our title na...bye-bye 6 peat!

Luckily, we placed 2nd. I even thought na 3rd pa nga kami eh. Just come to think of it..may error na nga yung performance naka2nd place pa..kamusta naman yun? So, it means..magaling talaga! FEU placed 3rd. Actually, bet ko pa FEU kasi they look like penguins on their costumes and with their cheerdance. Kaya lang, hindi sila synchronize..medyo magulo, pero okei na rin.

After all what matters the most is that UST was almost there..0.5 point margin...a bit close, huh? Wait for next year and for sure STD will have the trophy again..(.^__^.)