Tams try to bring back the cheers

MANILA, Philippines - Eased out of the Top 3 for the first time since 2002, the Far Eastern U Tamaraws Pep Squad has vowed to atone for its lackluster campaign last year and guaranteed a big rebound in the 2014 UAAP Cheerdance Championships set Sept. 14 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I really want to bring this team back to the podium. It was very frustrating for me since that was the first time that we were booted out of the Top 3 since I took over,” said FEU Green Bisons coach Jacqueline Alota.

But aside from making up for the lackluster campaign in UAAP season 76, Alota wants her team to win and redeem some pride for her.

“What really motivates me is the fact that I don’t want to suffer back-to-back losses at the hands of my former students,” she said.

Alota was referring to his former starflyers at FEU who are now at the forefront of the defending champions National University Bulldogs Cheer Squadron’s campaign.

“My former players are now in their coaching staff. And although I am proud to see them succeed, of course, I want to show that I am still their mentor,” she said, referring to former FEU starflyer and now Bulldogs head coach Ghicka Bernabe and assistants Ernesto Ocampo, Karl Pabillona and Gabs Bajacan.

“I know these guys, they’re very creative. In fact they would help design our numbers when they were still dancers,” said Alota.

Even veteran cheerdancing judge Paula Nunag believes that NU, supported by the SM group of companies, will be one of the title favorites owing to their outstanding performance last year.

“They had a very entertaining routine last year. It was very innovative. Hindi ako pwedeng mag forecast kasi magja-judge ako (sa tournament) pero the challenge now is for the other teams to match that this year,” Nunag said.

“But the pressure is also on NU, which is hard-pressed to come up with a more exciting and interesting, different routine,” she added.

Perennial UAAP cheerdance champion Lala Perena, meanwhile, said she won’t single out NU as this year’s top team, saying all squads are out to topple the Bulldogs.

“There are no favorites this time, not even NU, because I consider every team a threat,” she said. “Even UST can do a comeback.”