NU dethrones FEU to claim 8th UAAP Cheerdance title

National University Pep Squad brought along the 19,121 crowd to an out of this world performance to claim its eighth title in the 2024 UAAP Cheerdance Competition on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

From start to finish, NU defied gravity and brought the spectators to a galactic adventure following a near perfect space-themed performance to garner 713 points. 

NU, which has been ruling the annual showcase in the past decade, tied University of the Philippines Varsity Pep Squad and University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe for most wins with eight titles. 

Adamson University Pep Squad scored 679.5 points for a runner-up finish after performing some of the greatest videoke hits ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘I will Survive’ to find its place back to the podium for the first time since 2021 where it also won the silver medal. 

Defending champion Far Eastern University Cheering Squad had an ice cold performance with a ‘Frozen’-inspired routine which earned them 650 points to complete the podium in third place. 

Meanwhile, University of the East Pep Squad had 641 points for their Sexbomb Dancers-inspired performance that saw them jamming to hit songs 'Halukay Ube' and 'The Spaghetti Song,' just nine points shy of a podium return that it last accomplished in 2017. 

Eight-time winners UST and UP landed in fifth and sixth places, respectively. 

UST, for its part, brought the audience on a trip down memory lane with a ‘Batang '90s’ theme to collect 634.5 points. 

On the other hand, the Diliman-based squad had 560 points for its summer-themed routine.

De La Salle University Animo Squad, meanwhile, wound up in seventh place as its final move from a chess-themed performance only garnered 525 points. 

The Ateneo Blue Eagles, who had big ambitions this year, kicked off the competition by telling a cosmic tale of the universe for 490 points as they continued their podium slump.

NU, which has been ruling the annual showcase in the past decade, tied University of the Philippines Varsity Pep Squad and University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe for most wins with eight titles.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News