NCAA Cheerdance: Three cheers for the chiefs

MANILA, Philippines — Arellano University overcame an errant start with a strong finish and a tougher pyramid to edge perennial foe Perpetual Help to claim its third straight crown yesterday in the 94th NCAA cheerleading competition at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Chief Squad, relying on a 90’s inspired theme, was a little jittery at the start when it failed to complete its initial stunts and first pyramid but made up for it by getting it done late thanks to a  perfect execution of their highlight pyramid.

When the smoke of battle cleared, AU got the nod of the judges and elicited a score of 229.5 points to snare a three-peat and fourth title overall in the last five years.

“Yes, we had some mistakes at the start and in our first pyramid,” said AU coach Lucky San Juan in Filipino. “But as a coach, I kept he faith that it will overcome it and do the rest of routine well, which the team did.”

The Perps Squad, which used Queen music, had a share of mistakes too but they did well in most of its stunts including a pyramid that it also completed flawlessly.

It wasn’t enough to win UPHSD the crown. It finished runner-up instead with 222.5 points.

It was the Perps Squad’s third straight second place finish to the Chief Squad including last year when it also lost closely, 234.5-226.

The Las Piñas-based school, however, will go home with the consolation knowing it’s still the most titled cheerleading team in the league with nine.

“We’ll be back next year,” said UPHSD mentor Ruf Rosario.

The Mapua Cheerping Cardinals, who won the inaugural staging of this event 14 years ago, came through with a near fluid performance to snatch 211.5 points for their fourth third-place finish.

Letran, boosted by the recruitment of 10 new members from former many-time national cheerleading champion Central Colleges of the Philippines, wound up fourth with 207 points that made up for a ninth and last place finish a year ago.

Earlier, San Beda was feted for winning the general championship in the college division while Perpetual Help claimed the overall high school crown.