by Jesa Mariel M. Parreño
September
15, 2013 may have appeared to be a typical Sunday for most people, but for cheerdance enthusiasts in the nation, it wasn’t just a normal Sunday.
A
sea of blue, maroon, green, yellow, red and white filled the SM Mall of Asia
(MOA) Arena last Sunday as the crowd went wild for one of the most anticipated
events in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) every
season, the UAAP Cheerdance Competition (CDC).
More
or less 20,000 fans and cheerdance enthusiasts occupied the whole arena,
causing the atmosphere inside the MOA Arena to have a vibrant feel from the
wait for the event to start, while the performances were being done, up to the
much awaited declaration of this season’s champion. Even those who were
streaming from the internet all over the country were eager to know the
results.
Much to the
dismay of the fans of the so-called Pep Squad ng Bayan, the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad,
who gunned for a four-peat from 2009, and ninth title this year as the UAAP CDC
champion, was dethroned by the National University (NU) Cheer Squadron.
NU Cheer Squadron who settled for the third spot in
the competition last season, bagged their very first UAAP CDC championship
trophy. NU Cheer Squadron was ahead by 75 points, receiving 695.5 points
compared to UP Pep Squad’s 620.5.
NU Cheer Squadron captain Adrina Alban said in an
interview with GMA News that they had focused on their weak points from last
year’s routine, and that the great improvement shown by their team was a
product of a five-month long preparation for the event.
Not only who were present in the
arena had expressed their thoughts on the turn out of the event. Netizens as
well had flooded Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites with both
praises and bashes regarding the result of the competition.
Being the UAAP
CDC champion for three years straight, many had anticipated on what routine the
UP Pep Squad would showcase to defend their title. Although they had failed to
become this season’s champion, fans of the team still expressed their support.
Former UP
student regent, Cleve Arguelles, expressed his support in twitter saying that a
person is not measured by the number of times he had fallen, but how he would
get back up with poise. Another supporter on twitter, @HEARTdino, tweeted, “Congratulations NU Pep Squad! You guys deserve it! Pero mas mahal ko pa rin ang UP Pep (But I still love UP Pep more)! Let's grab that 9th win next year!”
In
an interview with GMA News, UP Pep Squad co-captain Lian Melegrito assured that
the team will reclaim the title next year. "Like in 2009, expect a
hungrier UP next year. Di kami sanay ng
nagse-settle for [a place] lower than the championship [title] (We’re not
used to settle for [a place] lower than the championship [title]). Get ready
for us next year," said Melegrito.
The results have
been announced and the only thing fans can do now is anticipate next season’s
competition and look forward to the teams’ routines, especially for the
dethroned UP Pep Squad.
What kind of
routine would they come up with to reclaim their title? For now, all we can do
is anticipate and wait.
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