While cheerleading is primarily associated with America, it is also taken pretty seriously in the Philippines where an annual cheerdance competition attracts tens of thousands of spectators.
Held since 1994, the annual University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Cheerdance Competition sees one team each from the eight UAAP-member Universities compete for the championship title, with points scored contributing to the overall UAAP tally to determine the school with the highest points for the year.
Held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines, on Saturday (December 2) the title of 2017 UAAP Cheerdance Champions was awarded to the Adamson Pep Squad from Adamson University for the routine shown in the video above, despite one of the team members having to overcome an unfortunate and challenging wardrobe malfunction five minutes into their six minute long routine.
Unless you’re closely looking for it you won’t see anything, as like a true performer the artist concerned almost didn’t miss a beat.
Dancing to music composed by iconic 70s Philippines disco group VST & Company, the 24-person mixed male and female Adamson Pep Squad cemented its victory as a result of an impeccable routine featuring multiple lifts and tosses, culminating in what commentators described as ‘six lifts ending in perfectly timed scorpions’.
The championship title culminates a rags to riches story for the Adamson Pep Squad, which broke a 16 year absence from the winners podium last year when it ranked third, its highest placing in the UAAP Cheerdance Champions 24 year history.
Coming in second in the 2017 UAAP Cheerdance Champions was the University of Santo Tomas’ UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, with the UE Pep Squad from the University of the East claiming third spot.
For last years’ winner, the National University’s’ National U Pep Squad, the 2017 AAP Cheerdance Champions are ones they would prefer to forget. After holding the championship title for the past four years, they finished this years’ competition in fifth place behind the Far Eastern University’s (FEUs) FEU Cheering Squad, ahead of teams from the University of the Philippines (UP), De La Salle University (DLSU), and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).
Feature video Phoenix Sy
Related:
- Adamson pulls off shocker, claims first UAAP Cheerdance title (Inquirer.net)
- Adamson University is UAAP Season 80 cheerdance champion (Rappler)
- Adamson Pep Squad wins the UAAP cheerdance competition (GMA News Online)