UP repeats as UAAP Cheerdance champion

The University of the Philippines Pep Squad used a Madonna-inspired theme to successfully defend its UAAP-Samsung Cheerdance Competition Saturday behind a packed crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. All members of the team sported Madonna's signature blonde locks and performed their six-minute routine in sync with some of the Queen of Pop's hits like "Like A Virgin" and "Four Minutes" in front of 20,842 people at The Big Dome.

They capped their solid performance with one of its members copying the famous UP Oblation to win the P340,000 top prize. UP, which has won four of the last five cheerdance competitions, clinched its seventh overall crown to move closer of tying the eight titles by the University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe. La Salle's Animo Squad made a surprising podium finish when it placed second while the Far Eastern U Cheering Squad, which foiled UP's three-peat title bid in 2009, finished third. La Salle and FEU pocketed P200,000 and P140,00 each. The scores were not made public by the UAAP. Laurence Martin Bautista, co-captain of the UP Pep Squad, said that the Madonna-look was inspired by the personality of the team. "Madonna is known for always reinventing herself and we can identify to her," said Bautista. "Our goal is to reach as much people as we can. Madonna is so popular and we know that with our routine, we inspired a lot of people." "I think our edge was we presented a clean routine but very challenging," added Bautista, who shares the captain role with Kathleen Anne Madrigal. The Animo Squad had a warrior-like theme with Aiana Lontoc staying in character and finished her performance despite dislocating her left arm. "We only knew that she was injured at the end our performance. She cried when she learned that we won," said Animo Squad team captain Harriette Mauricio. Ruf Vandolph Rosario, who led the University of Perpetual Help Cheering Squad to the 2010 NCAA cheerdance crown, coached the La Salle Animo Squad. FEU, which finished second last season, dropped to third with its Bollywood theme this year. The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe finished fourth while the Adamson Pep Squad took fifth spot. The National University Pep Squad, Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion and University of the East Pep Squad placed sixth, seventh and eight, respectively. Ballet Philippines artistic director Paul Alexander Morales, Ai Hasegawa, Damien Ng, Michelle Tang and Javier Baren served as the judges. It was a sweep of sorts for UP after its five-member mixed team also ruled the inaugural group stunts exhibition event followed by FEU and National University. UP Pep Squad member Nessa Salvador was named the Samsung Stunner besting bets from UST, FEU and Ateneo. — JVP, GMA News