CHEERDANCE CHAMP. National University Pep Squad head coach Ghicka Bernabe raises the UAAP Cheerdance Competition championship trophy after the team returned to the top on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. It will be Bernabe's final season as NU coach as she will get married next year. (Photo courtesy of UAAP Season 85 Media Team)
MANILA — The National University Pep Squad returned to the top of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition ladder after ruling the Season 85 edition in front of 18,029 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Saturday night.
The cheer dancers from Jocson street in Sampaloc took home the crown after their "Cheer-robics" performance, which came seventh in the order, was good for a total of 723 points, quickly dethroning the FEU Cheering Squad, which won the Season 84 event last May.
It was also a grand send-off to NU coach Ghicka Bernabe, who will bid farewell from the squad as she is to get married soon.
"Yung happiness ko mas malaki sa arena (My happiness is bigger than that this arena)," said Bernabe, who led NU to all its seven cheer dance titles in a span of nine seasons. "It's a milestone for me as a coach."
The green-and-gold pep squad, which paid tribute to the late Francis Magalona, settled for second place after amassing 719 points as NU Pep, despite getting the most significant deduction of 14 points, still scored enough to take the title, its seventh overall.
Still, coach Randel San Gregorio lauded his team despite missing out on a rare same-year grand slam.
"Yung fact na nag-first runner-up ay bonus na sa amin ito (The fact that we finished first runners-up is already a bonus for us)," San Gregorio said.
He gave one final prop to Bernabe, who used to be a member of the FEU Cheering Squad before accepting the offer to become NU Pep's coach, saying, "She is the heart and soul of NU."
The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe's Lady Gaga tribute performance wounded up third with 640 points to complete the podium finishers.
"Gratitude and being proud I am. It's really overwhelming. It's amazing," UST coach Mark Chaiwalla said.
The UE Pep Squad finished fourth with 606.5 points, while the Adamson Pep Squad came in fifth with 595 points.
The UP Pep Squad got the sixth-place finish with 575.5 points, but some fans see the optimism that the team will make its way back to the top very soon with what they thought was its best performance in recent years.
The DLSU Animo Squad came in seventh with 528.5 points, while the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion finished eighth with 502.5 points. (PNA)
