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With an eye-popping and 'retro' performance, Adamson U soared to cheerdance greatness in the UAAP 80 CDC on Saturday. Denver Lachica/Dugout Philippines
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By Ricky Manliguis
PASAY CITY—Adamson University soared and grooved to the top of the
cheerdance pinnacle by winning its maiden title in the 2017 UAAP Cheerdance Competition at the Mall Of Asia Arena Saturday evening.
Mixing excellent lifts, pyramids and stunts with 80s music
from VST and Co., the squad from San Marcelino bested out the competition en route to its breakthrough title to the delight of the 19,851 fans inside the venue.
Adamson improved on its third-place finish last season, finishing with a score of 663.50 points ahead of eventual second placers UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and bronze medallists University of the East .
The SDT, back after missing the podium last year, tallied 638.50 points, while UE, which last tasted a top-three finish in 2002, scored 634.50 behind a phoenix-themed performance.
National University got its five-peat bid foiled after placing tied for fourth with Far Eastern U Cheering Squad on 610.50 points. The defending champs got into a shaky start with costly falls on their pyramids in an "Under the Sea"-themed routine.
UST's record will still remain as the only team in CDC history that won five consecutive titles, from 2002-06.
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UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe returned to the top 3 with an Egyptian-inspired number. Denver Lachica/Dugout Philippines
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University of the Philippines, returning after a one-year hiatus, were relegated to sixth with 575.50 points. Rounding out the list were the De La Salle Animo Squad (7th, 567.50) and the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion (8th, 558.50).
In the Group Stunts category, Far Eastern U wowed the crowd with a near-flawless run to bag the gold medal. Adamson claimed the silver, while UP Pep got the bronze.
“Noong na announce na gold kami sabi ko, ‘Lord totoo ba to? Gisingin niyo ko’ I was really really speechless,
‘di ko alam unang iisipin ko,” said winning AdU coach Jam Lorenzo in a post-game interview.
Aside
from trophies and medals to the top three, the champions received
PHP340,000 cash. Second and third placers got PHP200,000 and PHP140,000
respectively.
Follow him on Twitter: @Teaching_Hero
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