HIGHLIGHTS: UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2025
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HIGHLIGHTS: UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2025

/ Updated as of: 08:58 PM November 29, 2025

LIVE UPDATES: The UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition unfurls on Saturday, November 29, at Mall of Asia Arena.

  • The UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition unfurls on Saturday, November 29, at 2pm at Mall of Asia Arena.
  • Defending champion NU Pep Squad is eyeing its ninth UAAP Cheerdance crown.

NU Pep Squad had familiar help en route to UAAP Cheerdance win

NU Pep Squad celebrates after winning its ninth UAAP Cheerdance Competition championship.

NU Pep Squad celebrates after winning its ninth UAAP Cheerdance Competition championship. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—NU Pep Squad coach Gabriel Bajacan didn’t hold back on the acknowledgments after their historic win in the 2025 UAAP Cheerdance Competition on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

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Fresh off winning the gold for the second straight year and ninth overall, Bacajan was quick to acknowledge those who helped National U on its way to history.

READ: NU Pep Squad wins ninth UAAP Cheerdance title in runaway fashion

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Surprisingly, one of those names was Ghicka Bernabe, one of the architects of NU’s legacy.

“I want to thank the people behind us. Earlier, I saw the coaches’ value and how they calm down these kids. The people who we don’t see on screen really helped,” Bacajan said.

“Even the previous coaches like coach Ghiecka, they really called us because sometimes, we have things that only other people can provide, not just us coaches,” he added.

After 9th UAAP Cheerdance crown, NU Pep Squad stays hungry

NU Pep Squad holds up the trophy after winning its ninth UAAP Cheerdance Competition championship.

NU Pep Squad holds up the trophy after winning its ninth UAAP Cheerdance Competition championship. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—After the confetti rained down on the National U Pep Squad’s historic ninth crown in the UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition at Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday night, team captains Iris Arendain and Jose Raymund Calapuan briefly shifted their attention to the future.

For Arendain, winning a second straight title felt good, but the chase is also what she looks forward to again–the chase for the Season 89 crown, to be exact.

READ: NU Pep Squad wins ninth overall UAAP Cheerdance title

“For next year, we still have to improve some things within ourselves. We need this to be a lesson to not be content. We need to be hungrier even in training and in every performance,” she said.

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NU Pep Squad wins ninth overall UAAP Cheerdance title

NU Pep Squad during the 2025 UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

NU Pep Squad during the 2025 UAAP Cheerdance Competition. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–NU Pep Squad clinched back-to-back titles and a record ninth overall after ruling the 2025 UAAP Cheerdance Competition on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Impressing with its tough stunts and fast-paced ninja-themed routine, NU is now the winningest team in the midseason showcase, breaking a tie with UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and UP Pep Squad, which both have eight titles.

Adamson Pep Squad, meanwhile, claimed the first runner-up spot for the second year in a row.

FEU Cheering Squad stayed on the podium, taking home the second runner-up honors.

LIVE UPDATES: UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2025

UAAP Cheerdance 2025 champions: NU Pep Squad.

  • UAAP Cheerdance 2025 champions: NU Pep Squad with a score of 695.

UAAP Cheerdance 2025 first Runner Up: Adamson Pep Squad with a score of 659.

  • UAAP Cheerdance 2025 first Runner Up: Adamson Pep Squad with a score of 659.

UAAP Cheerdance 2025 Second Runner Up: FEU Cheering Squad with a score of 658.5.

  • UAAP Cheerdance 2025 Second Runner Up: FEU Cheering Squad with a score of 658.5.
  • UAAP Cheerdance Competition results about to be announced.

  • For the last performer of the day: UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe with a spooky Halloween themed routine.

  • On the mat now is FEU Cheering Squad with its Batang Pinoy routine.

  • Next up: The defending champion NU Pep Squad dressed as ninjas for their routine. NU crowd at MOA Arena clad in pink.

  • Up next: Ateneo Blue Eagles on the mat to the tune of the soundtrack of the movie Sing.

  • Fourth performer: DLSU Animo squad with a baseball-themed performance.

  • Third performer: Adamson Pep Squad with a routine showcasing its journey as a team.

  • Up next: UE Pep Squad with a High School Musical themed show.

  • First on the mat: the UP Varsity Pep Squad with its festive, Christmas-themed routine.
  • Cash prizes for this year’s competition: Champion gets P50,000, first runner-up P30,000, and second runner-up P20,000.
  • The show proper for the UAAP Cheerdance Competition has started. School correspondents have introduced the schools and hyped up the crowd.

UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition: Order of Performance

UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition: Order of Performance

  1. UP Varsity Pep Squad
  2. UE Pep Squad
  3. Adamson Pep Squad
  4. DLSU Animo Suad
  5. Ateneo Blue Eagles
  6. NU Pep Squad
  7. FEU Cheering Squad
  8. UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe

UAAP Cheerdance: NU Pep seeks record ninth crown

NU Pep Squad during the UAAP Season 87 cheerdance competition

NU Pep Squad during the UAAP Season 87 cheerdance competition. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

National University will be gunning for back-to-back titles and a record ninth crown when the UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition unfolds Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

NU Pep, performing sixth in a first-ever competition order based on hosting rights, is ready to showcase its signature ninja moves under second-year head coach Gab Bacajan. The squad aims to break the tie at eight championships with University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines.

READ: NU Pep Squad reclaims UAAP Cheerdance title

“Very different from what we were doing last year. The things we struggled with in the past few years will bear fruit now,” said Bacajan, promising a fast-paced routine. “We are happy to have new players coming in now. We have a lot of graduating students this year.”

For the first time, the UAAP and its member universities are calling on spectators to wear white to promote accountability and transparency in government, following the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“Cheerdance can also be a platform,” said UAAP Season 88 president Fr. Rodel Cansancio of host UST. “We are inviting fans and supporters to wear white. It has already been approved by the Board of Directors.”

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