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NU Cheer Squadron ecstatic with podium finish, sees bright future
InterAKTV/Roy Afable
The way the National University Cheer Squadron celebrated during the awarding ceremonies Saturday’s UAAP Cheerdance Competition, one would think that they actually won the title.
NU won third place, finishing in the podium for the first time after a Disney-themed presentation.
“Para na kaming nag-champion kahit hindi kami nag-champion,” said Gheveeka Bernabe, one of the coaches for NU. “Kung makikita mo, yung napanalunan namin e zero, zero, zero. This is really big for us.”
It was a bit of a surprise finish for NU, which was composed mostly of new recruits and headed by new coaches. Bernabe said that almost all of the members of the team are freshmen and sophomore students, while all the coaches — four of them — were joined the team just this season.
NU initially hired foreign coaches to bolster its squad two years ago. But it still failed to surprise its competitors, leading to a revamp of the squad.
“All of the coaches are very new for this team,” Bernabe said. “It just happened na nagkaroon kami ng very good system.”
Bernabe believed all along that with the hard work of her team would lead to a top three finish.
“We’re confident na magagawa namin ito, ma-ke-claim namin yung top three,” Bernabe said. “Yung stunts namin ngayon, hindi biro. Na-ko-compare na to the likes of FEU and UP.”
After clinching its highest finish so far, Bernabe said she wouldn’t be contented with what the Cheer Squadron has achieved this year. She said other teams should now be wary of NU, which she believes will become a perennial contender in the cheerdance competition for the years to come.
“Hindi na namin pakakawalan ito,” she said.
