Altas reign anew: Cheers!

MANILA, Philippines – Perpetual Help made good its vow, dishing out a near-flawless performance to beat last year’s conqueror Arellano U and reclaim the crown in the 91st NCAA Cheerleading Competition at the MOA Arena in Pasay City yesterday.

The Perps Squad, whose three-peat bid last year was stymied with miscues in execution that enabled the Chief Squad to score a breakthrough win, came through with tougher, more polished stunts, tosses and routines this time and wrested back the title with 195 points.

Arellano U didn’t fare bad either but fell short of its title-retention drive by just two points with a 193 while Emilio Aguinaldo College matched its third place finish last year with 145 points.

The victory was the Las Piñas-based school’s ninth in 12 years. The other schools that won outside Perpetual Help and Arellano U were Mapua in 2003 and Jose Rizal in 2008.

“I miss feeling this high,” said Perpetual Help coach Ruf Rosario, whose wards dropped a heartbreaking 404.5-405.5 defeat to the Chief Squad last year.

Perpetual Help actually nearly lost it again after blowing its final routine, an all-male reverse pyramid.

“I was surprised we didn’t complete it because of all our stunts, it was the easiest,” said Rosario.

Perpetual Help started to celebrate as soon as Arellano U was announced the runner-up and the Perps Squad and their supporters whooped it up after they were officially declared as champions.

The key, according to Rosario, was preparation.

“We really worked and prepared hard to regain this title,” said Perpetual Help team captain Mark Espinas.

Last year, the Perps Squad performed the tougher routines but committed several glaring mistakes that cost them the crown.

“We knew for us to win, we need to minimize mistakes and that’s what we’ve done,” said Rosario.

It was Perpetual Help’s third championship this season after topping the men’s and juniors volleyball.

“It’s a proud accomplishment by the school,” said Perpetual Help Policy Board member Anthony Tamayo.