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| Precious Chavez (middle) thanked the Lord that her team won the UAAP championship anew. Gab Victorino |
The NU Pep Squad withstood late injuries and last minute roster tweaks to successfully defend its UAAP cheerdance championship at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NU coach Ghicka Bernabe and team captain Precious Chavez relayed to Dugout how the team overcame the odds and took its second straight cheerdance win.
"We got injuries [in various body parts during training]," said Chavez, who also shared that someone even got hit in the eye.
She also said that the summer training was the toughest they had for the event.
Bernabe added, "One week before the event, na-injure yung isa naming power lifter."
Despite the members' conditions, NU still went all out during the practices, convincing Coach Ghicka to rule out major amendments.
"But yung mga iba naming injured members, patuloy na lumaban, kaya di na ako nag-revamp," she said.
"We have to be strong, kasi si Lord gumagawa ng paraan," added the graduating Chavez, who later said that she and her teammates went to church prior to the event.
"Sabi ni Father, 'Claim the victory,'" she recalled the preacher's sermon.
In spite of the critiques the team got, Chavez stood firm in her faith in God. She said, "Sabi ni Lord, 'Gawin mo lang yung ginagawa niyo.'"
Chavez also said that they vowed to stave off what they thought was a dismal performance in the National Cheerleading Championship, where they, the erstwhile winners, slipped to third and relinquished the title to Central Colleges of the Philippines.
"Di namin pwede ulitin yung nangyari sa NCC," she said.
Bernabe added that the improved performances from the other teams motivated them to go all out tonight.
"Kaya kami nag-champion kasi in-expect na namin na mag-e-evolve sila," she said.
Coach Ghicka also added that she chose the American Indian theme inspired by the Disney movie Pocahontas because even the kids can relate to it.
Meanwhile, she said that Claire Cristobal tends to stay optimistic in spite of defeats.
"Di mo sya makikitang ma-disappoint," Bernabe said of Cristobal, whose group stunts team lost to FEU.
"Basta nagawa nila nang tama yung routine, OK na sya doon," Coach Ghicka added.
"Di mo sya makikitang ma-disappoint," Bernabe said of Cristobal, whose group stunts team lost to FEU.
"Basta nagawa nila nang tama yung routine, OK na sya doon," Coach Ghicka added.
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