Altas go for 2nd cheer-dance plum

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help goes for back-to-back victories in the NCAA Cheerleading Championship today at The Arena City in San Juan City.

The Altas will try to do a UP as it shoots for the victory in the cheer-dance tilt after finishing last in the basketball competitions.

The Maroons also humbled the fancied FEU Tams and Ateneo Eagles to top the UAAP cheer-dance competition recently.

But eight other schools will be out to foil Perpetual’s bid, including San Sebastian, San Beda, Jose Rizal U, Mapua, Letran, Arellano, St. Benilde and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

No less than Management Committee chair Frank Gusi of host San Sebastian and league cheerleading committee head Paul Supan of Jose Rizal made the announcement of the event that is hoping to ride on the success of last season.

“It’s going to be a more exciting competition this year, everyone is excited,” said cheerleading committee head Paul Supan of Jose Rizal.

The league is teaming up with the National Cheerleading Championship headed by Carlitos Valdez for the second straight season.

“The NCC is the only group of its kind in the country and we’re using the same guidelines and rules implemented internationally so we’re really excited to be part of this event,” he said.

Like last year, the NCAA and the NCC will hold a cheerleading camp prior to the event to give participants a chance to learn more on the fast-growing sport as well as its safety measures.

A bigger prize cash pot is up for grabs this season with the champion pocketing P100,000 and the second and third placers getting P60,000 and P50,000, respectively.

The Perps used a combination of beautifully choreographed dance with difficult pyramids and stunts they infused with pop music to win last year’s title in the Samsung-backed event worth P90,000.

Jose Rizal, the 2008 champion, wound up second while Emilio Aguinaldo finished third.