BAKIT NU? | Netizens react to NU's cheerdance win

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Did the NU Pep Squad deserve to win the UAAP Cheerdance Competition? Many netizens who watched the said event either on TV or in flesh at the Mall of Asia Arena thought otherwise.

Twitter erupted on Saturday night, moments after NU Pep staved off an apparently error-marred cheering routine and pulled an upset against the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and the UP Pep Squad, which had perfect runs.

Some began speculating NU's win when both Gawi and UP Pep were announced as second and third placers respectively.

PAG PUMASOK NU DITO HINDI KO NA TALAGA ALAM. TANGGAP KONG UST MANANALO DITO PERO BAKIT PANGATLO LANG ANG UP. PANGALAWA DAPAT DIBA

— pdr ☁︎ (@patthelostreyes) October 3, 2015

Huh? 1st runner up lang UST? Bakit?! If not UP, I was expecting it to be UST. 😡 Wag naman NU!!!!

— jennifer bumanglag (@pherrrrrry) October 3, 2015

When NU's win was formalized, another Twitter user thought NU Pep had more falls than the times she was in love.

Bakit NU??????? Mas madaming beses pa hulog nila kesa sa mga times na nafall ako e. Lul nyo.

— СJ (@winawazak) October 3, 2015

Another saw NU's win as a hindrance to the nation's economic development.

VERY WROOONG!! BAKIT NU?!!! MAS TANGGAP KO PA YUNG ADAMSON. WOW HA, KAYA HINDI UMAASENSO YUNG EKONOMIYA NG BANSA VERY WRONG TALAGA!!!!

— enoch (@iamenochjoshua) October 3, 2015

Syd Espiritu even brought in Antonio Luna to the fray!

bakit nu.. pic.twitter.com/VP7vyAgVp9

— Syd (@sydespiritu) October 3, 2015

Two others even demanded essays for explanation.

NU? BAKIT NU? GIVE ME A 1000 WORD ESSAY EXPLAINING WHY

— Paulyn Gulmatico (@ngiPAYNE) October 3, 2015

Bakit NU? BAKIT? Please explain in a 20-page essay, single-spaced, with 20 references and in-text citations from peer-reviewed articles! PLS

— Karl Mercado (@karlmerc) October 3, 2015

As expected, tweets explicitly saying that the competition was rigged were posted.

BAKIT NU and LUTONG LUTO are trending. This is nothing personal, NU. But you gotta admit, even you got surprised! #UAAPCDC2015 *flips table*

— Rachel Dela Cruz (@RJ_delacruz) October 3, 2015

Some keen observers, however, said that there are so-called advanced stats that veteran pep squad members know.

maiintindahan ng mga Cheerdancers at Veterans sa Cheerdance kung bakit NU ang panalo...

— Engr. Dino Carpio (@dinbirch) October 3, 2015

Guys pag cheerleader kayo, maiintindihan niyo kung bakit NU ang nanalo.

— Vaughn Kieffer (@VaughnMorales) October 3, 2015

Bakit NU? u guys must watch international level cheerleading.. its not just about the flaws. Dapat UST? Playing safe ang stunts #uaapcdc2015

— Trix Dela Vegá (@trixdelavega) October 3, 2015

BAKIT NU? A balance between synch choreo and fluid technical difficulty.

— Raya David (@raysofraya) October 3, 2015

Update as of 11 p.m.: Aware that Fil-Chinese SM owner Henry Sy also owns NU, some pitched the school's cheerdance win in their tweets of dismay after China downed Gilas in the FIBA Asia Championship final.

Bakit NU? National University represents the country China. ✔ UNJUST ✔ UNFAIR ✔ BULLY ✔ USES MONEY & POWER TO WIN ✔ SELFISH #UAAPCDC2015

— King Inhinyero (@KingKatipunero) October 3, 2015

BAKIT NU. COOKING SHOWS TODAY BROUGHT TO YOU BY FIBA AND UAAP.

— SHOWTIME OFFICIAL! (@Showtimeofclna) October 3, 2015

Follow the writer on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno