Waylon Galvez
Game Today (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City)
2 p.m. – UAAP Cheerdance Competition
Last year, the Adamson Pep Squad delivered one of the best routines behind the OPM hits of iconic band VST & Co. to claim its first UAAP Cheerdance Competition title.
This year, it’s going to be a story about the circle of life.
And that will be revealed as the Adamson Pep Squad defends its title in what many expects to be another epic competition in the 81st UAAP Season at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The competition begins at 2 p.m. with University of the East taking the privilege to showcase its routines first and to be followed University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, La Salle, National University, Ateneo, Far Eastern University and then the reigning champion Adamson.
Adamson coach Jam Lorenzo said all of the team members are excited for this opportunity to defend the championship, but sees a tougher competition this time.
“Of course we’re all excited, excited to see too the other teams,” said Lorenzo yesterday. “We trained for five months and we’ll give it our best again, same as last year’s UAAP.”
Lorenzo didn’t give much about the details except that it’s going to be about storytelling on the circle of life, and that he leaves everything to each members of the Pep Squad.
“We’ve done everything in terms of preparing for this. Now it’s all about execution,” said Lorenzo.
In last season’s action, Adamson bagged the school’s first CDC title in one of the most competitive contests ever as the Falcons delivered an entertaining and almost perfect performance behind the hit songs of VST & Co. like ‘Sumayaw Sumunod,’ ‘Swing,’ ‘Rock, Baby, Rock’ and ‘Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko.’
The routine ended with another classic ‘Tayo’y Magsayawan’ song as Adamson cheerdancers sported star-shaped glasses with a disco ball that turned the arena to a disco party of 19,851 audiences.
Adamson had a total of 663.50 points for that retro-inspired performance, as it bested the University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe (638.50pts) and the UE Pep Squad (634.50pts).
Out to regain the title is the NU Pep Squad, which placed fourth last season that ended its four-year reign, while the Salinggawi Dane Troupe and the Warriors loom as threats – particularly UE after its first podium finish ever last season.
However, as the first performer, history is not on UE’s side since no school has ever bagged the title after performing first since the UAAP CDC began in 1994, while UST is out to end a 12-year drought since it won title No. 8 in 2006.
