FEU Cheering Squad reclaims UAAP Cheerdance title

The Far Eastern University Cheering Squad found its way back on top of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition after dethroning the National University Pep Squad on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Competing before a lively 18,122 fans with a Super Mario video game theme, FEU displayed a flawless, jaw-dropping routine to reclaim the title it lost last year with a runner-up finish

Battling head-to-head for the top finish in the last seven seasons, FEU narrowly edged out the eight-peat-seeking NU with 702 points as the latter wound up five points shy of clinching its second straight crown with 697 points.

The seven-time champion NU, performing with a “King of Rock and Roll” Elvis Presly’s greatest hits under new head coach Gabriel Bajacan, continued to rock the floor and wow the crowd but still fell short of outshining FEU.

The University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe also claimed its place in podium after energizing the crowd to the tunes of Korean girl group Blackpink for a third-place finish with 684 points.

This would be the second time that UST placed third in the competition.

Meanwhile, Adamson Pep Squad missed the podium for the second consecutive season following a 665-point finish despite showing off with a stunning performance inspired by the film “Trolls”.

Eight-time champion University of the Philippines Pep Squad, meanwhile, still couldn’t find its way back to the podium and landed at fifth place with 602 points.

The last time that UP won the crown was in Season 75.

The Diliman-based team took the fans a trip down memory lane and hit the floor to local band Eraserheads’ popular songs.

Meanwhile, the University of the East Pep Squad pulled off a fiery all anime-themed performance inspired by ‘90s cartoon Dragon Ball Z to end up in the sixth spot with 559 points.

UE had its last taste of the podium back in 2017 and has since slipped outside of the top three.

For the seventh straight year, the De La Salle University Animo Squad and the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion continued their podium slump following seventh and eight place finishes, respectively.

DLSU earned 555 points after grooving to its “High Energy” Latin-themed routine.

Ateneo, for its part, couldn’t get itself out of the bottom place following a Superbowl-inspired performance to the tunes of American singers Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Katy Perry.