The UAAP Cheerdance competition, known to be one of the most exciting tournaments every year, is happening this Saturday, November 17 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The pep squad of each school and their fans come out every game to cheer their team, and it’s only going to get more intense on this day as school pride in on the line.
Curious to know more about the competition? Here are 8 facts you should know before tuning in this Saturday:
Only Five Schools Have Won the Competition So Far
The UAAP Cheerdance competition has been ongoing since 1994 and since then, only five out of the eight schools have brought home the gold. Only UP, UST, FEU, NU and just recently Adamson have been crowned champions in the competition in the past 24 years.
The Group Stunts Competition Was Only Introduced in 2011
The tournament’s group stunts competition was not something that always happened since the beginning. Since 2011, only the five schools mentioned above won the group stunts.
The Main Rivalry of the Competition Has Been Between UP and UST
If basketball has the Ateneo versus La Salle, the cheerdance competition has been UP versus UST for a while. Both schools have always watched each other since the tournament’s genesis and they have been going at it since then. UP, however, leads UST with three more podium finishes.
UP Hasn’t Made it to the Top 3 for Two Straight Years
They may be known to rule the competition but UP has been on a two-year slump which they look forward to getting out of this year. In 2016, the squad did not participate due in part to their failure to reach a resolution with the organizers of the tournament. In 2017 meanwhile, UP did not place for the first time after only being ranked 6th place with a total of 71.94 points behind Adamson’s (that year’s champion) 85.94.
The Competition Was Once Suspended for a Year Back in 1997
In 1997, the cheerdance competition was forfeited. The UAAP Board decided to suspend the competition after a member from the UP squad got into an accident during practice.
UP Leads the Championship Rank with a Total of 20 Podium Finishes
Before 2016, UP has always made it into the top 3 of the competition, making them number one amongst the 8 schools competing.
The Criteria for Judging Varies Every Year
There have been numerous changes every year and this year’s criteria might just be a bit different compared to the last. The point system is always announced right before the competition starts.
UE will Open this Year’s Competition
The order of this year’s tournament is as follows:
1. UE Pep Squad
2. UP Pep Squad
3. UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe
4. DLSU Animo Squad
5. NU Pep Squad
6. Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion
7. FEU Cheering Squad
8. Adamson Pep Squad
Will UP get out of their slump and bring home the gold to Katipunan once again? Will Adamson double peat? Will UST steal the show? Or will there be new champions this year? Let us know what you think!
