UNIVERSITY of the East Pep Squad enters this year’s UAAP Cheerdance Competetion on a high after its runner-up finish at the National Cheerleading Championship.
UE Pep Squad’s feat even has defending champ National University Pep Squad coach Chicka Bernabe taking notice and named them among the top contenders this year, but UE’s team captain Jerome Montenegro played down the praise.
“Winning in the NCC helps a lot. Mas lumakas loob namin na lumaban at mas maraming nagmahal at naniniwala na sa amin ngayon,” said Montenegro.
UE performed a circus-inspired routine to finish fifth last year for a total score of 583, just half a point behind fourth placer Far Eastern University.
Montenegro refused to give a hint on what to expect from their team, but he assured that they have gotten better after of almost a year training.
The third year AB Broadcasting student compared his team to Pokemon characters, which evolve from to become better, stronger with constant training.
“You'll be expecting a different UE compared last year. Every year, all teams are upgrading and of course UE upgraded and evolved this time. Ika nga nila, we're Pokemons,” he said.
UE Pep Squad hopes to be like the NU Pep Squad, which started from the bottom before they have finally barged in the podium finish that is long dominated by powerhouses like University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University.
“We all know that NU is one of the strongest team to beat and one thing I can assure that everyone can be like them as long as you have a heart of a champion,” he said. “And I do believe that my UE Pep Squad team will prove this coming CDC the fruit of our hard work and sacrifices.”
The much-awaited UAAP CDC is on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
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