Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
It took the most miniscule of points for University of Santo Tomas from entering the podium in one electric UAAP Season 81 Cheerdance Competition.
The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe failed to enter the top three after tallying 638 points, just 0.5 points less than bronze medalist Adamson University, and that tiny error became the talking point of nearly thousands of social media users that watched the event on Saturday.
For head coach Mark Chaiwalla, who led UST to the silver medal in Season 80, the public outcry was the consolation they need after narrowly missing out on the podium for Season 81.
“I’m okay with it because after the performance I was really happy just with the performance itself,” said Chaiwalla after everything settled down at Mall of Asia Arena. “I was telling them that ‘guys it’s okay,’ because the performance itself could already speak for us and the Thomasian community was happy for us.”
The Salinggawi Dance Troupe performed with a diva-inspired routine that became an early favorite among the 20,117 spectators inside the venue since UST was slotted in at third in the order of performers.
UST finished off its routine with a tribute to Beyonce with the words “Diva Santo Tomas” emblazoned on long pieces of cloth that wrapped around one of the dancers.
Chaiwalla, though, knows how frustrated his team was especially with how close they got from crashing the top three.
UST’s coach even likened their scenario to the one National University experienced in Season 80 when its four-year reign was snapped.
“I feel that what we’re feeling right now is the same thing that NU felt last year,” said Chaiwalla. “We’re much hungrier, we’re going to make sure we will be back. We’re really going to make sure.”