NCAA Cheerleading: Last year’s slim loss fuels Altas in return to top

NCAA Cheerleading Competition. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The Altas Perpsquad saw its five-year reign in the NCAA Cheerleading Competition end by the slimmest of margins last season.

That painful experience, however, only made the winningest cheering squad in the league better.

READ: Altas Perpsquad reclaims NCAA cheerleading title

“After last year’s competition, we really prepared physically and mentally because it was really painful on our part that we fell after winning our eighth title,” said Perpsquad captain Mark Espinas, who had a fitting farewell.

“And our loss last year, we made it our inspiration. We wanted to bounce back for ourselves and not because of our opponents.”

The Perpsquad lost to the Arellano Chiefsquad by just a point in last year’s competition before reclaiming their status as the No. 1 squad on Tuesday night.

READ: GALLERY: NCAA Season 91 Cheerleading Competiton

And from a point, only a couple separated the two schools with Perpetual Help winning its ninth title overall with 195 points to Arellano’s 193.

“Even if we’re on cloud nine right now, we have to keep our feet on the ground and stay humble,” said the team’s coach Ruf Vandolph Rosario.