From a Disney movie to 90s nostalgia to outer space, this year’s themes will surely leave spectators entertained as the University Athletic Association (UAAP) Season 87 Cheerdance Competition (CDC) fires off on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad will be last to perform among the eight participants in the much-anticipated event. But head coach Randell San Gregorio vowed his team won’t be left in the cold when their turn comes.

The FEU Cheering Squad will adopt the Disney movie Frozen as their show-stopping theme as they seek to make a repeat and capture a third crown in four editions.

“We only do this once a year, there’s no second chance, unlike in other sports where you can bounce back in the next game. Here the next chance is next year,” San Gregorio said during the event’s press conference Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles will kick off the competition with a cosmic tale, telling the story of the universe’s origin.

Second to perform are the University of the East Pep Squad, transporting the audience to the height of novelty pop as they pay homage to the Sexbomb Dancers.

A nostalgic Batang ‘90s theme will be University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe’s routine this season, hoping to get a better podium finish after bagging the bronze medal last year.

Adamson University Pep Squad closes the first half and will have the crowd singing and dancing to beloved karaoke classics.

University of the Philippines Varsity Pep Squad will bring the heat inside the venue with their summer vibes to open the second half.

National University Pep Squad in their redemption run after a runner-up finish last season promises to take the crowd into a galactic adventure with a space-themed performance.

Performing seventh will be the De La Salle Animo Squad with their chess-themed routine looking for a surprise checkmate as kings and queens of the battlefield.

The competition criteria will remain the same as last year. Four judges will oversee the cheering skills and four more will judge the dance aspects.

“The criteria will be the same as it has been for the last couple of years. It will be stunting, pyramid, then you have tumbling and tosses. Those are the specific cheer skills that we’ll be looking for. One judge will judge each of those categories,” cheerdance technical head Paula Nunag explained.