The Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad vows to give the judges a showstopping performance and wow the crowd as they aim for a back-to-back reign in the University Athletic Association (UAAP) Season 87 Cheerdance Competition (CDC) today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Winners of two of the last three editions of the much-anticipated spectator event, the FEU Cheering Squad has prepared a routine that will leave the audience frozen in their seats.

Lined up as the last to perform in the eight-team field of the event kicking off at 2 p.m., the reigning champions will take the crowd into the mystical land of Arendelle with their theme based on the Disney movie Frozen.

“As far as defending is concerned, we don’t want to focus on that. The focus is to hit the routine. That’s the only premise needed. If we win, thank you. If not, that’s OK. As long as we can complete our run to make all the team’s efforts for the past six to eight months all worth it, we’re OK,” FEU coach Randell San Gregorio said.

But out to leave FEU in the cold and avenge their dethronement last season are the University Pep Squad.

The seven-time winners aim to take the crowd on an intergalactic journey with a space-themed performance and eventually capture another crown that will get them level with other winningest teams University of the Philippines Varsity Pep Squad and University of Santo Tomas (UST) Salinggawi Dance Troupe.

“We’ll still stay with our program and our system. We still believe in its efficacy. Through the years NU has been doing great in our performance. We believe that our program is capable of winning championships in the future and this Season 87,” NU second-year head coach Gabriel Bajacan explained.

Meanwhile, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe seeks to reestablish themselves as the true “warriors” of the CDC.

“Gawi,” will depart from modernity to ignite childhood nostalgia with a Batang ‘90s routine.

The UP Varsity Pep Squad will perform fifth to bring the heat in a summer-inspired theme.

Opening the CDC are the Ateneo Blue Eagles with its cosmic narrative followed by the University of the East Pep Squad with its iconic Filipino girl group, the Sexbomb Dancers, theme while the Adamson Pep Squad will serenade the crowd with beloved karaoke classics.

The De La Salle University Animo Squad will embody the “kings and queens” of the UAAP battlefield with an intense chess and battle-themed routine.

The competition criteria will remain the same as last year with four judges overseeing 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.

“There will be four judges also, who will be judging the dance portion. They will judge the choreography, how they transition, the spacing and the genres that they will be using, technique and execution.”

Judges from the International Cheer Union, the global and worldwide governing body of cheer accredited by the International Olympic Committee, are tapped for the competition.