The UP Pep Squad has done it again! Winning the 2008 UAAP cheerdance competition. Even though I was rooting for my alma mater the Far Eastern University, I was still disappointed with the results of the cheerdance competition. I never thought that FEU would be in the same spot as they were last year. I expected an improvement in the result rankings at least 1^st runner up for FEU and I also expected Adamson University to claim a spot in the top three. The other thing that also shocked me was the judge’s scoring. I found out that there was a large gap between cheerdance competitiors. The scorecard were as follows:

1.       University of the Philippines                       —93.3

2.       University of Santo Tomas                           —85.27

3.       Far Eastern University                                    —83.96

4.       Ateneo De Manila University                      —83.41

5.       Adamson University                                       —81.04

6.       University of the East                                     —72.69

7.       De La Salle University                                     —70.07

8.       National University                                         —68.36

You see that? I just can’t believe that the scores were too far from one another especially for the top three, plus, it’s not just me but many people have been expecting something different with the results. I guess it’s just based on people’s own opinions that shape the “what-could-have-been” scenario. There are many loopholes and whatnot in the completion, for example are the judges. Well it’s nice to have a judge that also came from participating schools, but wouldn’t it be much nicer if the judges came from out of nowhere and never knew any team on the competition? That is just to prevent the biased scoring, and the worst case scenario that I think had an effect is having 2 judges from the host school which were celebrating their centennial year, when other participating schools were having only one representative judge. Another thing that can affect the judge’s score card is the rep of a particular squad. If the squad has been doing well in the past few years, then its own rep will cover its own little bit of errors.

The following reviews are based on my own opinions and any disagreements are welcome of course and you can add a comment on your own opinions on what should and could have been for this year’s competition.

UP

UP’s performance was great, and they even ended the performance with the UP’s signature, The Oblation. There were many people who were skeptical about the performance of the UP Pep Squad, but they still prevailed.

UST

The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe’s performance for this season was well… a bit off… I am disappointed by their performance this year and in my honest opinion they don’t deserve to be in the 1^st runner up position. Maybe in the 2^nd runner up or not in the big three since there were many contenders for the 2^nd runner up spot. They better improve next year or else their floppiness will really backfire.

FEU

The FEU Cheering Squad did a great job, but there was one major problem, the final pyramid ruined it, but it’s just the final pyramid, and nothing else, everything was clear, everything is well. The FEU Cheering squad deserves to be up a higher notch on the 1^st runner up and not the 2^nd runner up position, I am not being biased here but the scoring should be fair. They don’t deserve to be in next to UST since FEU’s performance was way off the hook, they really deserve a second look and their performance has a high replay value. No doubt.

Improved Squad

NU

The National University Pep Squad has improved their performance for this season, compared to their performance for the past years. Back then they were just like “Oh Okay. That’s it?” performance, now they were also fighting back, giving off an impressive performance. They don’t deserve to be in the last place, much worse be given with a score lower than 70. The judges giving them the score of 68.36 was really an exaggeration, and in my opinion they did a much well performance than University of the East. Well there is still much room for improvement for the National University.

AdU

Adamson University’s performance was above the par for this season. They deserve to be in the top 3 rather than having UST on it. Everyone knew before the verdict was dropped that Adamson University will claim a spot in the top three, and I also do. UST maybe in fourth and AdU in 3^rd, that is fairer. Yeah SDT has been in the top 3 for a long time but that does not mean that they can’t be booted off the top three even if they give such a lousy performance. People don’t like to see recycled performance. They want to see something new.

Worst

UE

University of the East, well for my own opinion, I think the worst for my rankings would be University of the East. Well, what I noticed most is the mistakes that they make. I thought they have improved, since they did well last year, but same as UST, their performance for me has gone down. They should better improve their performance for the upcoming year.

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ADMU

DLSU

I did not notice that much from these two schools in the cheerdance competition, well maybe because I was expecting the more prominent UP, FEU, UST performance, to deliver a more “wow” factor when it comes to cheering competition.

I may consider them more prominent when it is about basketball but not about cheering competition.

OTHERS

I think it’s time for the UAAP Cheerdance competition to have judges from outside the country which does not have any interest to the said event, so that the score results will be more acceptable since the scores that will come from unknown judges will not have a bearing on which school did dominate the past few seasons and which schools are still struggling to claim a spot in the top three positions.

My Own Rankings

This is what, in my opinion, the ranking should be:

UP Pep Squad

FEU Cheerng Squad

AdU Pep Squad

UST SDT

ADMU Blue Babble Battalion

DLSU Animo Squad

NU Pep Squad

UE Pep Squad

What about you?

1. 2011 UAAP Cheering Competition Tickets!