All eyes on NU’s bid for 3rd title

National University Pep Squad

The high expectations drive the National University Pep Squad to focus even more on its bid for a third straight UAAP cheerdance championship.

“We have a tougher routine,” said NU coach Ghicka Bernabe. “We know all eyes are on us. But we think we’ll be able to live up to the expectations.”

With “legacy” as its battle cry, NU targets the record feat in the blockbuster event at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Only the University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas have strung up three straight crowns in the annual show, one of the league’s biggest draws.

“Although there were adjustments because half of the members are new, we didn’t make our routine any easier” said Bernabe.  “We made sure our seniors pushed the rookies to adjust to their level.”

The UP Pep Squad and the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, which settled for podium finishes last year, are tied with the most number of titles with eight.

UP finished runner-up in the last two seasons after reigning for three straight years. But the State U squad vies to reclaim the championship with a number centered on the theme utak at puso (mind and heart).

The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe returned to the podium last year after dropping out of the top three for three seasons. They last won in 2006, the final year of an incredible five-season title run.

UP looks to set the bar high when it kicks off the show, before the La Salle Animo Squad and the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion go next.

NU sets its campaign off as the fourth performer, followed by the University of the East Pep Squad and Adamson Pep Squad.

The Far Eastern University Cheering Squad, which last ruled in 2009, go seventh before UST closes out the spectacle.