NU back on top in UAAP cheerdance

Flawless.

Seven months removed from the throne, the National University Pep Squad delivered a performance to remember — announcing its return as champion of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Cheerdance Competition.

NU left the 18,029-strong audience at the Mall of Asia Arena on a rainy night on 10 December gasping for air over every difficult stunt the squad nailed, and aerial acrobatics that defied gravity in every twist and twirl in midair, to rule Season 85 of the spectator event.

The Ghicka Bernabe-mentored squad was back with a vengeance, after sliding down to a bronze-medal finish last season, outshining Far Eastern University with a "cheerobics"-inspired routine.

"I don't have any other emotion to express right now but happiness, because this is my last season with the NU Pep Squad," Bernabe said. "My happiness right now is bigger than the arena."

NU showed it was a cut above the rest — wowing the panel of judges and collecting 723 points to win, as the competition reverted to its pre-pandemic format of a maximum of 25 performers per team, each routine running up to six minutes.

NU also bagged the P50,000 champion's purse.

From loud and colorful aerobics costumes to an '80s pop medley, to its amazing stunts, towering pyramids, tumbling and sharply-choreographed dance, the NU Pep Squad blew away the competition — despite coming in next to a stunning performance by FEU.

Unfazed by the Season 84 winner's clean Francis Magalona-themed routine, NU showed poise and confidence to capture its seventh title out of nine editions.

This puts the NU Pep Squad a win away from joining the elite club of CDC champions University of the Philippines Pep Squad and University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe, which have won eight titles each.

FEU — which won the crown upon the competition's resumption last May following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic — settled for second with 719 points.

FEU received P30,000 cash prize.

UST, which paid homage to Lady Gaga, salvaged a podium finish for third for the first time since 2017.

The Salinggawi Dance Troupe garnered 640 points and pocketed P20,000.

University of the East ended fourth with 606.5 points. Season 84 runner-up Adamson missed the podium, sliding to fifth spot with 595 points.

Landing at sixth was UP (575.5 points), followed by De La Salle (528.5 points) and Ateneo (502.5 points).