Lifestyle: The UP Pep Squad - UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2012 Champions

The UP Pep Squad members sport shaved heads during their routine

The 2012 UAAP Cheerdance Championship once again goes to UP Pep Squad. Even a major error in its final stunt couldn’t stop the University of the Philippines pep squad from reigning in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition, becoming champions for the third straight year.

The eigh-time champions stayed true to their theme of “freedom and equality” as everyone in the squad, even the women performers, went bald for Saturday’s event at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It was actually the second “three-peat” for UP – the last from 1999 to 2001.

They also tied the University of Sto. Tomas with the most number of titles.

The UP pep squad’s overall performance, with its ingenious dance moves, was enough to bring home the crown despite a fall by one of the dancers in its final stunt.

The Far Eastern University’s fierce and wild performance, which gave the crowd the feel of the jungle, was good for first runner-up – an improvement from its last year’s third place finish.

The National University Pep Squad’s Disney-inspired routine, meanwhile, got a happy ending as it barged into the top three for the first time.It was a festive Brazilian carnival-themed performance for the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe that missed out on a chance to remain the only squad in history to bag eight titles.

This year also marked the back-to-back losses for Salinggawi,, which finished fourth again.

The DLSU Animo Squad packed a punch but failed to score a knockout with its boxing-inspired performance, missing out on the top three honors after a first runner-up finish last year.

As far as the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion, with their sleek black, blue and white costume, is concerned, not even Voltes V could save them from a sixth place finish.

The Adamson Pep Squad tried to win the judges over with a K-pop performance “Gangnam Style” but could only muster seventh place.

The University of the East Pep Squad rocked The Arena with their red cape and blonde “do” but ended last.

UAAP Cheerdance Competition order of performance:

Adamson Pep Squad

DLSU Animo Squad 

NU Pep Squad 

FEU Cheering Squad 

UE Pep Squad 

UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe 

Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion forms a Voltes V robot as part of their performance. 

And the last to perform was UP Pep Squad.

UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2012 Winners:

UP Pep Squad's Nikolette Erica Ambulo named 'Samsung Stunner' 

National Univeristy Pep Squad is 2nd runner-up in Group Stunts Competition
FEU Cheering Squad is 1st runner-up in Group Stunts Competition
UP Pep Squad is Champion in Group Stunts Competition
UP Pep's Ambulo chosen as cheerdance 'Stunner'
FEU Cheering Squad is 1st runner-up (2nd place)
UP Pep Squad named CHAMPION

News and photos from Inquirer.net