National U repeats as cheerdance champion

Pinoy Pride” meant finesse under pressure and the national University (nU) Pep Squad showed tons of grace to top anew the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Cheerdance Competition at the jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

Performing last in the eight-team contest and hounded by superb performances from last year’s podium finishers Adamson University and Far Eastern University (FEU)—which both ended up on the same spots—the Bulldogs saved their best for last and scored 722 points for their second straight title—and sixth overall.

Grooving on a Filipino-themed routine, nU cornered the stunts (81), tosses (89.5), pyramids (96) and dance (369.5) departments to run away with the crown. The Tamaraws (706 points) and Soaring Falcons (658.5 points) again finished second and third, respectively.

“There’s no such thing as an easy journey for nU, it was a hard and exciting journey,” nU Coach Ghicka Bernabe said.

“Everything that we worked on paid off. We missed some occasions and events, we sacrificed our personal time for this championship,” she added.

The Bulldogs earned P50,000 for winning the crown, while the second and third placers received P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

it was a double celebration for nU when it also clinched the Group Stunt contest with 237 points. The result was also as identical as FEU (223 points) and Adamson (206 points) completed the podium.