NU dazzles in Cheer Olympics
National University displayed the grace, creativity and athleticism that Filipinos are known for in capturing the bronze medal in the co-ed elite division of the 11th International Cheer Union (ICU) World Championships at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Florida, recently. It was an unprecedented feat for the UAAP’s back-to-back cheer title squad as the Philippines had never before competed in the highly competitive division where 17 countries, including defending champion New Zealand, vied for honors.
Despite only two months of practice, NU dazzled the audience with a bone-bending routine of gymnastics, precision and a high degree of difficulty in execution to draw praise from US coach/ stunt choreographer Joe Jackson who described the performance as “world-class.” Mexico, last year’s bronze medalist, vaulted to first place while Chile took the silver medal. New Zealand slipped to fourth.
The ICU has staged the World Championships every year since the governing body’s inception in 2004. With a membership of 104 countries, the ICU holds competitions in eight divisions – co-ed elite, all girl elite, all girl premier, co-ed premier, freestyle pom doubles, hip- hop doubles, team cheer freestyle pom and team cheer hip-hop. This year, 70 countries sent entries with the Philippines represented by NU in co-ed elite, Team Sayawatha of Miriam High School in team cheer hip-hop and a selection of crack Filipina cheerleaders in all-girl elite. The three Philippine teams brought home medals with the selection claiming the silver and Sayawatha the bronze. But NU, as the new kid on the block, stole the show.
“To participate at the ICU World Championships is the dream of every Filipino cheerleader,” said Philippine Cheerleading Association vice president and National Cheerleading Championships director Paula Nunag. “These are difficult divisions and our teams beat former champions. We won for Asia, not just the Philippines, as we were the only Asian country in the top three in our divisions.”
NU team manager Jun Gaw said clinching the bronze in the co-ed elite was no easy task. “The boys and girls of the NU team gave it their all and did their best,” he said. “They showed that the Philippines is a competitor to keep an eye on in the world of cheerleading. We were up against powerhouse teams, including former world champions. Compared to other teams that were composed of hand-picked cheerleaders, our NU Pep Squad is a university-based team and competed with newcomers who have had to build their skills from scratch. We were the underdogs at the World Championships and took the cheerleading world by surprise.”
NU’s rise to the top in the UAAP was a story of hard work, patience and determination. At the 2011 UAAP Cheerdance Championships, NU finished sixth of eight. Then, NU climbed to third the next year and finally, made it to first in 2013 and 2014. For the World Championships, NU assembled a team of 10 girls and 16 boys coming from different parts of the country, including Iligan, Davao, Zamboanga, Baguio, Ilocos, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Bataan, Calabarzon, Bicol and Metro Manila. Most of the athletes rely on their scholarships for the opportunity to earn a college degree.
The NU Pep Squad usually practices about six months to perfect its routine for the UAAP and National Cheerleading Championships but training for the World Championships was limited to less than two months to polish a three-minute act. The team, however, took on the challenge without hesitation.
“We weren’t nervous because of our limited practice because we were more excited to show what we Filipinos can do on stage,” said NU marketing management student Strawberry Amistoso of Rizal. Another NU mainstay Claire Cristobal, an accounting student from Bulacan, said the team owed its success to God and NU management for supporting the team all the way from Manila to Orlando and back. “We’re very proud of this achievement,” said Cristobal. “We are even more determined to improve.” Alexander Valera, a physical education student from Metro Manila, said the experience in Orlando will go a long way because the competition at the World Championships is 10 times more intense than anywhere else.
At the helm of NU’s surge is NU chairman and SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy who has created a strong academic-athletics program in the school. Through the years, Sy has encouraged and inspired the NU Pep Squad which has now paid him back for his trust, confidence and support. “With Mr. Sy personally giving words of encouragement, coordinating with various team managers to create an environment that has honed the skills, talents and capacities of the NU Pep Squad, NU will continue to show the world the power of Philippine cheer and the prowess of the Filipino cheerleader,” said NU Pep Squad head coach Ghicka Bernabe.
NU academic coordinator for athletes Clara Manzano-Lacson said the NU Pep Squad is a glowing example of academic and athletic achievers. “It is our aim at NU to balance the academic and athletic talents and skills of our students and the NU Pep Squad has always been good at doing this,” she said. “They manage their schooling and practices well. We couldn’t be more proud of them. We know that through our customized program which looks out for the welfare of our athletes, NU’s teams will continue to succeed both locally and abroad.”
The courses being taken up by the 26-strong NU Pep Squad reflect a wide variety of interests, including education major in mathematics, accounting, marketing management, business management and physical education.
“We are humbled by the experience of competing in Orlando,” said Bernabe. “The girls from the US team in Level 6, they can braid their hair while standing in a pyramid. They’re very inspiring. Ultimately, our entire NU team will become more daring and will strive to get better. We will continue to be prayerful and attribute our success to God’s grace.”
NU Pep Squad assistant coach Gabriel Bajacan said the competition in Orlando was fierce but friendly. “The other teams gave us a thumbs up, cheering Go Philippines,” related Bajacan. “They even advised us how to improve. There was true sportsmanship. When the winners were announced, we all clapped, hooted and each team that made it to the platform, from gold to bronze, patted each other on the back, shook hands and hugged. There was no bitter rivalry only pure cheer and spirit. Though we aimed for the gold, there was nothing but pride and joy from the coaches and managers.”