Changing of the guard highlights UAAP 80 cheerdance tiff

MANILA, Philippines — Two teams have been dominating the UAAP Cheerdance competition recently.

It came to a point that the six schools virtually were just aiming for bronze, since the gold and silver will eventually go to either the National University Pep Squad or the University of the Philippines Pep Squad.

The 2017 edition at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday, however, was different.

Both NU and UP failed to notch a spot in the podium as the Adamson Pep Squad, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and UE Pep Squad reigned supreme.

NU failed to replicate UST's five-peat after settling for a fourth place finish (tied with FEU).

Despite the early falls the squad sustained, head coach Ghicka Bernabe said she hoped the high level of difficulty of their routine will set them apart.

"After matapos (magperform) ng seven universities, pinanood ko ulit 'yung routine namin sa Facebook," she said.

"Nagkaroon ako ng chance and hope na we're still part of the top three kasi first part lang naman ang may laglag. It's just three or four stunts but aside from that flawless naman ang routine namin onwards."

Unfortunately, the judges saw otherwise.

UP, meanwhile, settled for sixth place, their lowest in the CDC history.

It also snapped their 20-year streak in the podium, not counting their absence last season.

UP Pep Squad co-captain Megan Cabrera said they are still happy because they were not really after a podium finish.

"This is not for the title. This is for them (the UP community)," she said.

"Ginawa namin lahat 'yun para sa UP community. If sila, proud pa rin sila sa amin, then we could say na masaya pa rin kami whether we win or lose," Cabrera said.

With the rise of squads like Adamson and UE, and the resurgence of UST, the 2017 edition is a testament that the competition is starting to become a wide-open race.