The National University Pep Squad in the UAAP Season 87 Cheerdance Competition, December 1, 2024, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

MANILA (UPDATED) — National University has reclaimed its spot at the top of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

The NU Pep Squad displayed an out-of-this-world, space-themed routine in the Season 87 festivities, and this allowed them to, once again, clinch the CDC championship after finishing second in Season 86 to Far Eastern University.

Coming in as the sixth squad to perform, National U wowed the 19,121 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay with a clean routine, one that even saw some of their members mimic a spinning propeller while being mounted.

This allowed them to lead all squads with 713 points, but NU head coach Gabby Bajacan said that even he was in awe of the performance of his team.

"Sobrang hindi po namin in-expect 'to," said the second-year head coach who previously steered NU to a silver finish in Season 86.

"Pero siguro masyado lang kaming hard sa sarili namin. We did not expect itong award na 'to. The whole competitors sobrang nag-step up lahat sila. Nakita namin yung dedication ng bawat team ngayon, so we did not expect na mananalo kami," he continued.

Aside from being crowned as this year’s titlists, NU also received all the special awards, namely: Power Performance Award, Juicy-fied Pyramid, Best Aerial Performance, Lit Dance Move Award, Stylish Performance Award, Most Unique Dance Move Award, and Most Synchronized Dance Move.

This is the eighth championship of National U, and this tied them with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and the University of the Philippines with the most number of cheerdance titles.

NU tallied 86.5 in tumbling, 91.5 in stunts, 91 in tosses, 85 in pyramids, 368 in dance — with these scores being No.1 above all teams — and they also only got nine points in penalties and deductions. 

Meanwhile, Adamson University earned a silver medal finish after they tallied 679.5 points.

The Adamson University Pep Squad in the UAAP Season 87 Cheerdance Competition, December 1, 2024, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

This was after the Adamson Pep Squad put up a routine that was inspired by a Karaoke Medley. Their silver finish was the first podium finish of the San Marcelino-based performers since Season 84 in 2022.

Adamson got 76.5 in tumbling, 85 in stunts, 88 in tosses, 84 in pyramids, 349 in dance, and only 3 in penalties and deductions. 

On the other hand, last year's champions FEU settled for bronze after they earned 650 points.The Far Eastern University Cheering Squad in the UAAP Season 87 Cheerdance Competition, December 1, 2024, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

The FEU Cheering Squad went with a Frozen-inspired performance after they went with a Super Mario-themed last year. 

They got 82 in tumbling, 80 in stunts, 74 in tosses, 78.5 in pyramids, 352 in dance, and 17 in penalties and deductions. 

This marks the sixth season in a row that the FEU Cheering Squad has made it to the podium of the league's showpiece events for pep squads.

Here are the rest of the schools and their points:

No.4 — University of the East/Sexbomb theme: 641 points

No.5 — University of Santo Tomas/Batang 90s: 634.5 points

No.6 — University of the Philippines/Summer-inspired: 560 points

No.7 — De La Salle University/Chess: 525 points

No.8 — Ateneo de Manila University/Big Bang: 490 points