BACK ON TOP:
Chiefsquad return as NCAA’s best
Arellano University dished out near-impeccable routines to pull the rug from under fancied Perpetual Help and crown itself champion of the 92nd NCAA cheerleading competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City yesterday.
The Chiefsquad, who failed to keep their 2015 crown with costly miscues last year, this time put on more difficult stunts, tosses and routines with minimal faults to earn the judges’ nod for 218 points and claim their second title in the last three years.
Perpetual Help, seeking a 10th championship in the last 13 seasons, came through with a tougher routine but fumbled in the early going, settling for second with 199.5 points.
“We executed well, that was the key,” said Arellano U coach Lucky San Juan, whose wards’ feat netted them P100,000.
The Chiefsquad whooped it up after Perpetual Help was named the runner- up, some shedding tears in anticipation of the big win.
“It was as special as our first championship,” said San Juan.
It also made up for their illfated bid last year where they lost to Perpetual Help by just two points, 193-195.
The Chiefsquad also did it with one of its main members fracturing a thumb a week before the event.
Aside from Perpetual and Arellano, Mapua and Jose Rizal U also won the crown in 2004 and 2008, respectively.
Perpetual Help coach Ruff Rosario, for his part, said their early mistakes cost them the crown.
“I feel if we had a perfect run, I have a strong feeling we’d win it, but we couldn’t,” said Rosario, who steered Perpetual Help to nine titles.
Mapua finished third with 191 points while San Beda and Emilio Aguinaldo College wound up fourth and fifth with 191 and 175 points, respectively.
Perpetual Help and Mapua received P75,000 and P50,000, respectively.