UP Pep Squad wows 'em all in cheerdance competition

MANILA, Philippines - They’re dead last in the men’s basketball wars but when it comes to the cheerdance competition, the University of the Philippines tops ‘em all.

Sporting blonde hair and effortlessly executing lifts Madonna-inspired routines, the UP Pep Squad danced their way to the 2011 Samsung Cheerdance Competition title, beating injury-hit De Salle Animo Squad and FEU Cheering Squad for their second straight crown.

The cheerdancers from Diliman punctuated their dominance with a first place finish in the inaugural Group Stunts event even as one of their members, Nesza Salvador, took home the Samsung Stunner award.

“I think our creativity gave us the advantage. We had a unique look, and we cleanly presented routines that are very challenging,” said UP co-captain Laurence Martin Bautista.

University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe settled for fourth, followed by Adamson, National U, Ateneo Blue Babble Batallion and UE Pep Squad.

UP Pep Squad won its fourth CDC plum in the last five years, hiking up its collection to seven overall, just one short of matching UST Salinggawi’s eight total.

The Maroons cheerdancers, P340,000 richer with this triumph, took after 1980s pop queen Madonna, dying their hair blonde since the start of September, for the event witnessed by 20,842.

“Madonna is known to reinvent herself and the team can identify with her. Our goal was to reach as many people as possible with our routine and we know we can achieve this through Madonna,” said Bautista, whose crew used the singer’s famous ditties like “Material Girl” and “Four Minutes” for their routines.

Handled by new coach Ruf Vandolph Rosario, the DLSU Animo Squad espoused the real archers-warrior hybrid peg in their six-minute performance that netted them the silver, their first podium finish since 1998’s second-placed bunch.

It was an emotional ride for the Archers as one of their members, Aiana Lontoc, dislocated her left arm after a wrong landing in a tumbling routine two minutes into the performance, crying in pain but managing to finish the whole gig. She was rushed to Cardinal Santos immediately after their turn.

“We’re all overjoyed, so proud and happy that we reached our goal of making the Top 3,” said DLSU captain Harriette Mauricio, sharing their feat via phone with Lontoc, who shed tears of joy upon hearing the news.

DLSU earned P200,000 for its runner-up finish while FEU got P140,000.