Arellano cops first ever cheerleading title

MANILA, Philippines – Arellano University is bridesmaid no more.

After two straight years of playing second fiddle to Perpetual Help, the Chief Squad finally hit it big and won its first ever cheerleading crown in the last event of the 90th NCAA season before a sizeable crowd at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Coming through with a near impeccable performance, Arellano bested the Altas Perps Squad by the closest of margins – a point – after garnering 405.5 points from seven local and foreign judges.

Arellano U thus won its first ever cheerleading title, ending two years of heartbreaks when they came close to winning it only to be denied by a powerhouse Perpetual Help side, champion of the five editions and eight of the possible 11 since the sport was introduced.

After it was announced the winner, members of the team along with school officials Francisco, Val and Peter Cayco and some fans and supporters celebrated frantically on centercourt.

The trick, according to Arellano coach and trainer Lucky San Juan, is getting to perform first.

"It's either you fall to pressure or thrive on it," said San Juan in Filipino. "I just told my team not to succumb to pressure and just give their best and set the standard for other teams to have a tough time to match.

"I'm happy we did," he added.

Unlike in the past seasons, the Perps had performed the tougher routines and stunts but committed too many mistakes that cost them a chance to secure an astonishing sixth straight crown and ninth overall in the 11 stagings of the event.

This year, the Las Pinas-based school, which garnered 404.5, will have to settle for a heartbreaking second place finish and hope it could bounce back the next season to win it again.

The Chief Squad performed everything possible – from tough routines and acrobatic stunts to awe-inspiring multiple tosses – and did it almost impeccably.

The win came on the heels of the Chiefs' breakthrough victory in women's volleyball, chess and a runner-up effort in seniors basketball.

"It's a proud accomplishment by the school," said Arellano president Francisco Cayco.

Arellano U pocketed the top purse worth P100,000 and the distinction as the best cheerleading team in the oldest league in the land.

Perpetual Help consoled itself with a P75,000 prize while College of St. Benilde surprised everyone with a third place finish with 359.5 points and a P50,000 purse.

Jose Rizal University, the 2009 champion, wound up fourth with 353 points.