UAAP Cheerdance: FEU dishes out own ‘Thriller’

MANILA,Philippines — The FEU Cheering Squad sounded grateful for another runnerup finish but at the same time said it  expected a “different” score in the dance category of the 82nd UAAP Cheerdance Competition eventually won by the NU Pep Squad over the weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Dishing out an explosive Michael Jackson-inspired routine, FEU wowed the crowd and drew one of the loudest cheers with their moonwalk-on-air and gravity-defying moves paired with clean-cut tosses, tumbling, pyramids and stunts.

This fiery FEU’s “King of Pop” tribute, coach Randell San Gregorio noted, should have garnered more points in the dance category as the Tamaraws lit up the crowd.

“I was actually expecting a different score. I’m not a judge though so it’s still okay. But (I was expecting different) in the dance score,” he said as FEU collected 706 total points to fall just 16-point short from NU’s 722 points.

While FEU welcomed the close gaps in other departments such as stunts (76-81), tosses (87-89.5) and pyramids (93.5-96), it felt that the dance score proved a difference as FEU lost by a 7.5-point margin (362-369.5). Both squads were tied in penalties and deductions, 4-4.

“Judging from the crowd’s reaction, we’ve done a good job in our routine. We felt that the crowd cheered the loudest during our performance. We’re already okay with that,” he added as FEU even ruled the tumbling category, 91.5-90.

In the end, however, San Gregorio said there’s no questioning NU’s victory in perhaps the best cheerdance battles in recent memory. For him, it’s already an honor to be at the podium for the second straight season that would only make them hungrier in trying to hoist the trophy next year.

“It feels great because it’s so hard to place in the top three and to do it back-to-back is already a great achievement for us,” he concluded.