NATIONAL U Pep Squad took history for its own on Saturday, becoming the winningest team in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition's 31-year history with its ninth championship powered by a crisp, ninja-inspired routine.
Back in 2012, the Bulldogs didn't know what it felt to stand on the podium before their bronze medal breakthrough.
From there, nine titles - breaking a tie with traditional powerhouses UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and UP Varsity Pep Squad.
And they haven't missed the podium since.
Still, nerves hit head coach Gabriel Bajacan harder than ever even after more than a decade with the program.
“Kabang-kaba talaga ako,” he admitted.
“Magaling din talaga si Adamson, lalo pa, may error din kami sa dulo. We know na sa UAAP, kapag may ganoong chance, pwedeng hindi ibigay sayo yung crown. But I’m very happy kasi naniwala kami sa lakas ng routine namin. Feeling ko, meant siya for this ninth championship.”
With NU rising from underdogs to top dogs, the mentor was quick to highlight the people behind the scenes.
“Tulong-tulong talaga siya ng lahat ng taong nakapaligid sa team na ito. Kung walang magandang funding, hindi mag-progress ang program,” he stressed, as the school's chief backer in SM's Hans Sy was in attendance for their performance.
“Hindi siya mag-flourish kung wala yung tatlo - good coaches, good athletes, good management.”
NU contest?
With this record-setting title, the crew from Jhocson is now far away from just putting the league on notice. They've been running this show for quite a while now.
With runner-up Adamson Pep Squad 36 points behind them, the Bulldogs seemed to be proving fans who claim their only opponent is themselves correct.
Well, pardon them for agreeing if you must, but you can't argue with the results.
As he put it, “Feeling ko, ang strict namin sa sarili namin. We set such high standards na kami mismo yung kinakabahan. Ang kalaban lang namin ay sarili namin.”
But make no mistake, this year, the pressure felt heavier than usual.
“Last year medyo sure-sure ka nang konti,” he said. “Pero this year, yung kaba ko, OA talaga. Ang tagal ko na dito, pero iba yung kaba.”
Now in his third year as head coach following the legendary Ghicka Bernabe, Bajacan admits the pressure to live up to what came before, but also sees their journey as a shared dream.
“Kung ano man yung naiwan ni coach Ghicka sa akin, we’ll continue that dream. Matagal kaming magkakasama. Kahit nasa iba’t-ibang countries na sila ngayon, tuloy pa rin yung pagtutulungan namin,” he said.
NU room for complacency
And you better believe these Bulldogs remain as hungry as ever - hoping to build on their record and widen the gap from the Growling Tigers and Fighting Maroons, both of whom are eager to return to the mountaintop.
After all, in 2017, National U's drive for five was derailed by Adamson, and it had to settle for an unthinkable - for them, at least - third.
“Hindi pwede maging kampante,” said Bajacan. “Yun yung lagi naming binabalikan. Lahat ng pinagdaanan noon, ginagamit namin ngayon para ma-explain sa mga bata na kahit nakakabuo ka, hindi ibig sabihin sure na.”
And that determination and discipline towards excellence is all the explanation you need to understand how a once unranked team is now the UAAP's gold standard.
More specifically, its blue-and-gold standard.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
