With bodies twirling during gravity defying tosses and marvelous stunts, the National University (NU) Pep Squad took everyone out of this world to reclaim the UAAP Cheerdance Competition throne.

National U showcased everything from unidentified flying objects, aliens and astronauts to creativity in props and colorful costumes, superhuman athleticism and sharply executed stunts in the highly anticipated Season 87 event that wowed the 19,121 loud and proud fans that filled Mall of Asia Arena Sunday afternoon.

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“The people who support say that NU’s routine has always been out of this world, so we decided to put that to life and make it our theme,” coach Gab Bajacan told reporters in Filipino. “We really went out of Earth to the universe.”

The runaway winners topped all categories for a total score of 713 broken down in tumbling 86.5, stunts 91.5, tosses 91, pyramids 85 and dance 368, while incurring only nine penalties.

Space and time

It was an awe-inspiring performance centered on space and time that distinguishably surpassed everyone else as the NU Pep Squad, a force here for the last decade, got back the title it narrowly lost to the Far Eastern University Cheering Squad last season.

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NU won an eighth title to tie the record jointly held by University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas. National U has also finished on the podium for the sixth straight time while sweeping the special awards for a total amount of P140,000 apart from the championship prize of P50,000.

“Every night, I am thinking about [our missed championship last year] because there was pressure on me,” Bajacan, who missed out on the gold in his first year after taking the reins from decorated mentor Ghicka Bernabe, said.

“I dwelled on that for so long and I was scared, because of the pressure that comes with being given the baton is so heavy,” he said. “I still can’t believe this win happened and that we are an eight-time champion.”

The Adamson Pep Squad, with its karaoke kings and queens theme, tallied 679.5 despite only three deductions to salvage second spot. It was Adamson’s second silver in four years.

Far Eastern placed third with a total of 650 points, while the University of the East Pep Squad came in fourth even with the least penalties with two, for 641 points. At No. 5 went to the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe with 634.5 points while University of the Philippines Varsity Pep Squad had 560 points before the La Salle Animo Squad and the Ateneo Blue Eagles finished seventh and eighth, respectively, for the fourth straight year. INQ