Vows for vengeance

By Jesa Mariel M. Parreño  

   

September 15, 2013 may have appeared to be a typical Sunday for most people, but for fans of 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 they would come up with to reclaim their title? For now, all we can do is anticipate and wait.