NATIONAL University once again proved a cut above the rest on Saturday, claiming its fourth straight UAAP Cheerdance Competition at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The NU Pep Squad put on a dazzling show with a near-flawless, sci-fi-inspired routine that lasted six minutes, wowing the crowd inside the Big Dome as well as the judges.
The Bustillos-based cheerdancers garnered 711 points with only one deduction to easily top an event that lost any semblance of suspense after NU's biggest rival, University of the Philippines, pulled out over issues with the competition rules.
NU also made it a double kill by ruling the group stunts event.
Far Eastern University claimed runner-up honors while Adamson Pep Squad finished a surprise third with a Hawaiian-inspired number.
"This is one of the sweetest victores namin, it's a good comeback after that very controversial routine or pagkapanalo last year," said NU Pep Squad coach Ghicka Bernabe.
"Gusto namin patunayan sa tao na kami ang nandito, binibigay namin ang best performance namin na kaya namin ibigay and imagination na lang siguro 'yung limitation ng team namin.
"So alam namin na kaya namin mag-four-peat ngayon clinaim na namin 'yun, hindi sa kampante kami, pero kine-claim namin kasi alam namin kung ano ang kaya naming ipakita for this season," she added.
The FEU Cheering Squad came in a far second with 658.5 points behind a theater-inspired routine while Adamson Pep Squad (655 points) crashed the podium with a Hawaiian inspired number.
University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe, who finished second last year, dropped to fourth place with 650 points. University of the East was fifth (645), La Salle Animo Squad was sixth (560.5) and Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion finished seventh (512).
Meanwhile, NU topped the Group Stunts, UST finished first runner up and Far Eastern University came in third.
NU Pep Squad also bagged the Best Toss, Over the Top Pyramid and Best Group Stunts awards.
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