UAAP 80 cheerdance tiff fires off

MANILA, Philippines — The school spirit will be on full blast once again from inside the Mall of Asia Arena and on social media when eight universities in the UAAP take the mat at the 2017 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Saturday.

This year, National University hopes to repeat, if not exceed its near-flawless run in 2016 to get its fifth consecutive cheerdance crown. Hoping to stand in its way are the De La Salle Animo Squad, the Adamson Pep Squad, the FEU Cheering Squad, the UE Pep Squad, the returning UP Pep Squad, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, and the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion.

Over 17,000 people trooped to the MOA Arena to watch the competition, which was won by NU with a seamless and highly technical futuristic routine. It also saw great performances from FEU, ADU, UST, UE, DLSU, and ADMU.  

With known cheerdance powerhouse UP returning to the fold this year, and the other Pep Squads improving each year, fans can expect a wonderful and inspiring show from all eight squads in the UAAP.

UP skipped last year’s competition, when the CDC committee was not able to address their protest. Their issue may remain unresolved and the competition is yet about to happen, but the UP Pep Squad’s return makes the UP community feel triumphant already.
 
“We just want to clarify na we’re not coming back dahil may gusto kaming patunayan or whatever. We’re coming back because we’re here to make the UP community happy and proud again (We want to clarify that we are making a comeback to make the UP community happy and proud again, and not because we want to prove something)”, explained UP Pep Squad coach Pio Opinaldo.

The second-runner up of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition will get P140,000 along with medals from the UAAP, plus P20,000 from a sponsor; the first-runner up will get P200,000 and P25,000 while the champion will get P340,000 plus P30,000 from a sponsor, and an additional P25,000.

The tiff will be aired live on Sports and Action beginning 2 p.m. and will be streamed simulcast via TFC online in key countries worldwide.