The 2009 NCAA Cheerleading Championship unfolds on October 21 at The Arena City with a total of 10 teams headed by defending champion Jose Rizal and national cheerleading champion Perpetual among the favorites.

“We’re excited because we have instituted some changes that should make this year’s edition more exciting than before,” said league NCAA cheerleading committee chair Henry Atayde of Saint Benilde on Wednesday.

One of those innovations was the league’s decision to join hands with the National Cheerleading Championship in organizing this year’s edition.

“The NCC is the only group of its kind in the country and we’re using the same guidelines and rules implemented internationally so we’re really excited to be part of this exciting event,” said NCC national director and head coach Paula dela Llana-Nunag.

Lacson, for his part, said the league and the NCC will hold a cheerleading camp on Sunday at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym in Manila to give participants a chance to learn more about the fast-growing sport.

The champion team will take home P90,000 while the second and third placers will pocket P55,000 and P45,000, respectively.

Jose Rizal, which pulled off a stunner last season, should be one of the favorites this year as well as Perpetual Help, a former three-peat champion, and Mapua, which won the inaugural staging six years ago.