Fans cheer cheerdancers

MANILA, Philippines - Pep Squads. UAAP basketball won’t be complete without ‘em. Their inspiring rah-rah chants, choreographed gyrations, and thunderous drumbeat liven up the crowd, amplifying the electricity already generated by action on the hardcourt.

Their cheerdance performances come halftime are probably as anticipated as the game itself, like in the case of every University of the Philippines-University of Santo Tomas matchup. Sort of a mini-battle between the school’s respective pep squads.

Last Sept. 17, such “battle” became a full-blown “war” among the pep squads of the eight UAAP schools as they got the Araneta Coliseum and everyone’s attention all to themselves for the 2011 Samsung UAAP Cheerdance Competition. This was their own Final Four, the pinnacle of the season.

With 20,842 energized people in attendance and millions more watching on TV, the cheerdancers took the mat one by one to do their thing for six minutes.

Adamson University Pep Squad took the ballerina peg, the girls in tulle dress depicting a ballerina musical jewelry box figurine in one routine.

Second-in-line Ateneo Blue Babble Batallion carried a Bollywood theme, kicking off with an A-formation and capping their number with a magic carpet effect and a lotus formation.

Clad in Spanish matador outfit, National University Pep Squad dished off a bullish performance highlighted with swaying red capes.

La Salle Animo Squad stuck to its traditional archer theme, although new coach Ruf Vandolph del Rosario infused a warrior concept with shield and sword. Team member Aiana Lontoc dislocated her elbow during the early part but went on, a condition that most at the Big Dome learned about belatedly.

Then came holders UP Pep Squad which took inspiration from American pop icon Madonna – from the blonde hair intended to have an illuminating effect to the black cone bra to the music itself. Smooth execution of lifts and formations capped by a formation of the UP Oblation highlighted their turn.

Last year’s runner-up FEU Cheering Squad came in next, going Bollywood just like Ateneo. Their generally solid routine, however, was stained by an error on the left side of a pyramid near the end.

Highly-touted University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe performed after, depicting the school’s 400-year history through a sound but rather lacking-in-awe piece complete with cross, Gregorian chants, and drawing of their Main Building.’

Last performer University of the East Pep Squad used a futuristic, space warrior concept, doing more stunts in a bid to improve their ranking.

After an extended wait filled in by the presentation of the Stunner Award (won by UP’s Nerisza Salvador) and the staging of the Group Stunts Competition (a new event confined strictly to lifting and aerial stunts for five-member teams that was similarly won by UP), the judges finally announced their decision.

UP was adjudged winner for the second straight year and seventh overall, followed by DLSU at a rather surprising second, and FEU at third. UST, the winningest team with eight crowns, failed to land a podium finish, settling for fourth ahead of Adamson, NU, Ateneo, and UE.

Head judge Ai Hasegawa of the International Federation of Cheerleading said UP’s “difficult but very stable stunts” gave them the edge in this competition.

Hasegawa and fellow judges Alexander Morales of Ballet Philippines, Damien Ng and Michelle Tang of International Cheer Union-Singapore, and Javier Belen of Pilipinas Cheerleading judged the teams based on dance technique, jumps, tumbling skills, tosses, lifts/stunts, pyramids choreography, degree of difficulty, synchronization, audibility/clarity, formation and audience impact.