The NU Pep Squad had to undergo a long healing process before they re-emerged as undisputed champions of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition.
NU's four-peat title reign came to a heartbreaking end last year as the team crashed down to fourth place. This Season 81, they worked their way back to the top and raised the bar anew with a dominant performance.
"The performance showed that we were very hungry and very thirsty to bounce back," said coach Ghicka Bernabe in Filipino. "Last year's experience was very memorable. Before we studied new stunts, pyramids, and tosses, we had to learn how to move on first."
"For how many months before we conceptualized the routine, we healed ourselves mentally and emotionally," Bernabe continued. "I know that physically, we can prepare them. We have no doubt about their skills, so we underwent the stage of acceptance and how to move on first. That was the process."
The five-time champions wowed the fans with a flawless routine inspired by the Disney film Coco. They soared above the competition, ranking first in dance, tumbling, stunts, and pyramids for a total score of 711. More importantly, they finished with zero deductions, a complete opposite of last year's error-filled performance.
"That was the main goal, not to commit any deductions," said Bernabe. "Sometimes even a one-point deduction can make a huge difference to the whole routine. For us, before we wished for another championship, we prayed for a clean, safe, and flawless routine."
Getting dethroned last season only made the team stronger and better. With five titles under their belt, they are inching closer to the shared winning record of the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and the UP Pep Squad, who boast of eight championships apiece.
"It's overwhelming. I'm proud of my team because they really sacrificed for this championship. It's enough that we let another team borrow this, but this is ours again," said skipper Kevin Lacbong.
Now that the crown is back in Sampaloc, the NU Pep Squad vows to hold onto it for as long as possible.
"We no longer want to feel the pain that we felt last year," Bernabe said. "We had the championship for four years, and now that it's back with us, it's hard to let it go again."