They were able to land the punches, but they weren’t hard enough.
Nevertheless, the DLSU Animo Squad still made good on their promise to deliver a knockout performance at the Samsung UAAP Cheerdance Competition held earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Their boxing-themed performance placed fifth among the eight competing schools in an event that was witnessed by 19, 509 fans and hundreds of thousands more who were glued on their television screens at home. Their fifth place finish equalled their ranking two years ago.
And even though their fifth-place finish was a step back from the silver ranking of their warrior-themed performance a year ago, it was still a commendable feat considering the fact that 13 out of the 25 members of the squad competed in the Cheerdance Competition for only the first time.
And in a true display of the unbreakable Animo spirit, rookie Jon Soriano continued to take part in the squad’s routine despite sustaining a head butt in his right eye just thirty seconds into the squad’s performance. Soriano, fortunately, was immediately given medical attention right after the squad’s routine.
Aside from the Cheerdance Competition itself, the Animo Squad likewise competed with five other schools in the group stunts event, which was held for only the second year (Ateneo and UE did not field teams in this event).
Maja Reyes, a member of the squad, was nominated for the Samsung Stunner Award along with the UST Sallinggawi Dance Toupe’s Akua Henaku Larbi and UP Pep Squad’s Nicolette Erika Ambulo, which recognizes the most beautiful face in the competition. The award was eventually given to Ambulo, making it the second year in a row that a member of the UP Pep Squad has won the award.
Short Recap of the Cheerdance Competition:
The UP Pep Squad continued to cast a long and looming shadow over the rest of the league and prove that they are still the team to beat when it comes to Cheerdancing, as they bagged their third straight Cheerdancing title and their eighth overall, which ties them with the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe for the most number of titles.
If it was their bleached-blonde hairdos, cone-shaped bras, and Madonna-themed performance that caught the fevered attention of UAAP fans last season, it was a stark contrast this time around as simplicity was the name of the game for the squad. Sporting short buzz-cuts, utilizing very little props, and donning nearly identical outfits for the males and females, the squad’s freedom-themed performance was able to garner the most number of first-place votes from the judges.
Consistency, on the other hand, is the name of the game for the FEU Pep Squad as they figured in a podium finish for the tenth straight year, as their jungle-themed performance placed second.
The NU Pep Squad, on the other hand, was able to figure in the top three for only the first time in the event’s 18-year history. Their royal-themed routine, complete with golden chalices and glittering scrolls, placed third among the eight competing schools.
Here are the final rankings of the eight schools that competed in the cheerdance competition:
- UP Pep Squad
- FEU Cheering Squad
- NU Pep Squad
- UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe
- DLSU Animo Squad
- Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion
- UE Pep Squad
- Adamson Pep Squad