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.MANILA — Far Eastern University fell short of repeating its previous victory in UAAP Cheerdance Competition.
After ruling Season 86 with their Super Mario-themed performance, the FEU Cheering Squad settled for third place in Season 87 following their Frozen-inspired routine on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
However, FEU head coach Randell San Gregorio admitted that he was surprised that they were able to salvage a podium finish in this year’s edition of the annual clash among pep squads, saying that his team was not able to meet the standards that they set for themselves.
“Ranking ko sa amin mga fourth or fifth,” said San Gregorio after the event. “Nag debrief kami, and sinabi ko na ganon kasi we had too many mistakes para mag podium. Buti na lang hinila kami ng dance, pero yung cheer elements namin, mababa yung rank.”
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FEU got a score of 17 in the penalties and deductions department, but they were able to be saved by their score in dance: 352.5, only second to the 368 of the champions National University.
“So okay pa rin, masaya. ‘Di lang kita sa mukha, pero masaya kami. Honestly, after our performance, sinabi ko sa kanila na ‘wag mag expect kasi feeling ko ‘di kami aabot sa Top 3,” he admitted.
But if there is one thing that San Gregorio laments, he said that it was not being able to give justice to the support that their community showed at the Pasay Bayside arena.
Far Eastern University Cheering Squad head coach Randell San Gregorio in the UAAP Season 87 Cheerdance Competition, December 1, 2024, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Photo by UAAP Media.“Nahihiya nga ako eh. First-time ko na ganun yung crowd,” he said. “Iba yung hype nila this year, mas hyper pa sila sa amin. So ako, personally, nahihiya ako eh.”
“Yung mga nag cosplay pa kanina, walang ganun dati. Talagang sila, nag ready sila at bonggang bongga sila. Hopefully, ‘di yun mamatay. Pasensya na po sa community namin for not delivering.”
Fortunately, FEU can bank on the fact that they were still able to extend their streak of podium finishes with six, and add more to their total which is now at 23.
“Okay pa rin. ‘Di pa rin natigil yung streak na nag po-podium kami, and nadagdagan naman yung podium finishes namin with 23 so okay pa rin,” he pointed out.
It should now be a matter of the Season 84 champions showing consistency moving forward, according to San Gregorio, if they want to return to the top.
“Okay naman yung program namin. It’s just, ‘di lang talaga nabuo eh,” he said. “Breaks of the game, so siguro we need to work more on our consistency. Tuwing mag de-defend kami, ‘di maganda nangyayari sa amin so we need to re-evaluate our performance this year.”
“Hopefully, we get to bounce back next year stronger. Kung ano man yung kulang, sana ma-figure out namin yun,” he added.
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