Members of the University of the Philippines pep squad show off their winning form during the 2010 UAAP Cheerdance competition at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday. (Photo by BOB DUNGO, JR.)

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines made up for its dismal 0-14 slate in basketball by capturing the Samsung UAAP Cheerdance Competition in front of nearly 21,000 screaming fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

Displaying their traditional Filipiniana theme, this time a Festival-like concept, along with a flawless routine, the UP Pep Squad bagged their third title in the last four years and sixth overall since the event began in 1994.

The Diliman-based squad dethroned the Far Eastern University Cheering Squad and the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe in winning the crown, perhaps giving the school some good vibes after their basketball team endured another winless campaign.

“Hindi namin iniisip yung nangyari sa basketball ang inisip lang namin e magawa namin ng maganda yung routine namin,” said coach NJ Antonio, whose team finished third in last year’s event.

“Every year, gusto namin pakita yung parang Filipino style of cheering kaya naisip namin na gawing fiesta ang maging tema ng performance namin,” Antonio added.

Based on the results provided by the judges, UP, which took home P340,000, got four first place votes from the five judges for a total 440.9 points. FEU, which failed to repeat as champions, came up with 421.4 points with UST taking third with 407.5 points.

Despite showing up with a Samurai theme coupled with a prop that resembled the famous facade of its campus in Morayta, FEU only got two first place votes to settle for a runner-up finish.

“For me, the most important thing is that we perfectly made our routine,” said FEU coach Jacqueline Alolor, whose squad pocketed P 200,000.

UST, a yearly favorites and perhaps the biggest rivals of UP and FEU, made its way back to the top three and a P140,000 prize by relying mostly on cheerdance skills and a Tiger-like theme.

“Base sa performance namin last year, parang sabi ng Thomasian community na kaya daw namin so we were able to build up from that experience,” said coach Ryan Silva.

Ateneo, who grab second spot in 2009, finished fourth, La Salle came up in fifth while University of the East, National University and Adamson round out the order of finish.