The SM Mall of Asia Arena transformed into a sea of white yesterday, November 29, as a massive crowd of 20,129 stood in solidarity for integrity while witnessing the UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition. In a battle of aerial mastery and thematic brilliance, the NU Pep Squad sliced through the competition with a ninja-inspired routine, securing a record-breaking ninth championship with 695 points, becoming the winningest squad in UAAP history. Meanwhile, the AdU Pep Squad and FEU Cheering Squad rounded out the podium, finishing second and third, respectively.
The DLSU Animo Squad stepped onto the blue mats looking to hit a home run with a baseball-themed routine. Paying homage to the university’s diamond excellence, the Taft-based squad donned classic pinstriped jerseys and wielded bat props to the tune of ballpark anthems. Despite a spirited effort with high-flying tosses and a “grand slam” energy that rallied the Lasallian faithful with a much improved routine, the Green-and-White ultimately settled for seventh place for the fifth consecutive year after garnering 546.5 points.
Holiday hybrids and wildcat roars
Kicking off the festivities, the UP Pep Squad ushered in the yuletide season early with a heartwarming Paskong Pinoy routine. The State U squad transformed the mats into a Noche Buena celebration, wowing the crowd with coordinated throws and intricate formations that mimicked towering human Christmas trees. Moving to the timeless beat of “Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit,” the Iskolars executed rapid climbs and tumbling passes that captured the frenetic joy of the holidays. The routine crescendoed into a high-energy finale featuring Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” where a Santa-themed dance sequence and a flawless final pyramid sent the Maroon-and-Green crowd into a festive frenzy. Their performance earned them sixth place with 558 points.
Following the holiday cheer, the UE Pep Squad traded Santa hats for basketball jerseys, electrifying the arena with a High School Musical tribute. The Recto-based squad wasted no time getting their heads in the game, launching into a sequence of consecutive flips, coordinated handstands, and “human flops” that showcased their superior synchronization. Signs flipping from “Wildcats” to “UE” punctuated the transitions as they moved through the iconic soundtrack, executing multiple throws with safe landings that kept the energy soaring. The Red Warriors capped off their error-free performance by throwing their caps in the air, not just as a graduation from the routine, but as a symbolic battle cry against corruption, reminding the audience that “we are all in this together.” Their spirited coordination and clean execution earned them the Best in Chemistry award and a fourth-place finish with 623 points.
Holding form, turning heads
The AdU Pep Squad once again proved their consistency with an adventurous explorer-themed routine. Riding the pulsing beats of Bastille’s “Pompeii” and the funky groove of Bruno Mars’ “Treasure,” the Falcons mapped out daring pyramids and tightly synchronized tumbling passes, which amassed 659 points to claim a back-to-back first runner-up finish.
The DLSU Animo Squad then embraced the diamond with a spirited baseball-inspired performance, trading their last season’s chessboards for base paths. The Green-and-White flyers leaned into diamond visuals and strung together cleaner tosses, sharper visuals, and more cohesive formations to bank 546.5 points. Set to the anthemic swell of “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay, the routine under new head coach Marlon Domingo highlighted the program’s growing difficulty and polish. Even with the same placement, the team’s stronger execution and bolder stunt choices proved that La Salle turned each inning on the mats into groundwork.
Meanwhile, the ADMU Pep Squad brought a playful Sing-inspired routine to life on the mats. Backed by crowd favorites like Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and Shawn Mendes’ “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” the Blue Eagles turned the floor into a feel-good stage even as they continued to search for the technical edge. However, they went on to accumulate 436.5, extending their eighth-place finish for the fifth consecutive year.
Out for revenge after being dethroned last season, the FEU Cheering Squad unleashed a youthful, vibrant routine that took to the streets the joys and freedom of childhood. Dressed in elementary school uniforms, the Tamaraws did not disappoint in showing out with soaring tosses, complex pyramids, and playful formations that resembled nostalgic Filipino street games like jumping rope, slingshots, Nanay Tatay, and Dr. Quack Quack. Grooving to iconic OPM songs, such as Parokya Ni Edgar’s “Bagsakan” and Salbakuta’s “Stupid Love.” This year’s bronze medalists ended their performance with an after-school outfit change to tank tops embellished with criticism the squad received in the past seasons, bravely charging through Season 88 with a commendable 658.5-point performance.
Flying all the way from the land of the rising sun, the eventual winners, NU Pep Squad, showed why they were back-to-back champions with their Japanese warrior-inspired routine. First dressed as regal samurai warriors, they delivered a world-class performance with fast-spinning tosses, agile transitions to pyramids, sword-sharp stunts, and a rare diamski to high-energy Japanese tunes. In classic NU fashion, they quickly switched out to neon pink ninja suits to close out their battle on a high note with spinning shuriken props and mesmerizing banners to cement a 695-point performance.
Closing out the exhilarating day of cheerdance was host UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, who thrilled the arena with a Halloween-inspired theme. Surging toward the blue mats with ghost props and in avant-garde costumes, the Tigers immediately showed their legacy in choreography with chilling and bone-breaking moves on top of clean successions, high-flying tosses, and near-perfect stunts. Dancing to hits “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and “Black Magic” by Little Mix, concluded their routine with an outfit change to a skeleton suit, bringing back their ghost props in a final hurrah that tallied 618.5 points for the eventual fifth placers.
Swinging toward tomorrow
Finishing seventh in the competition, the DLSU Animo Squad under a new head coach, paid homage to La Salle’s storied baseball legacy of 10 UAAP crowns with high-energy through a diamond-inspired routine. Months of hard work showed in their sharper stunts, steadier landings, and tighter formations, drawing loud cheers from the crowd and signaling a strong step forward for the Taft-based cheering squad.
With this momentum and experience, the Green-and-White are determined to return next season even stronger to swing harder for a long-awaited podium finish and write the next chapter of Animo on the blue mats.
