DESPITE what head coach Mark Chaiwalla described as a “close-to-perfect run,” the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe settled for fourth place in this year’s UAAP cheerdance competition.
The Beyonce-inspired routine of Salinggawi, which bagged silver last season, scored 638 points, half a point shy of third-placer Adamson University Pep Squad, which tallied 638.5 markers for its Lion King-themed showcase at the Mall of Asia Arena last Nov. 17.
“Nanghinayang lang talaga ako sa score sheet kasi the difference for the podium finish was just .5 and sayang kasi siguro without our errors, nag-podium pa sana kami,” Chaiwalla said.
The National University (NU) Pep Squad reclaimed the title they lost last year after scoring 711 points with its Mexican-themed performance while the Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad’s 70’s-inspired routine landed at second place with 655.5 points.
The University of the East Pep Squad dropped to fifth with 602.5 points while the University of the Philippines Pep Squad settled for sixth place anew with 568.5 points.
The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Babble Battalion finished seventh with 558 points, followed by the De La Salle University Animo Squad, which registered 459.5 for eighth place.
NU, FEU and Adamson also dominated the group stunts category, finishing first, second and third, respectively.
Wasted chances
Chaiwalla said the team could have placed higher if not for its “avoidable errors.”
Salinggawi registered 346 in dance, 78.5 in tumbling, 73 in stunts, 59 in tosses and 72 in the pyramids while Adamson had a spread of 334, 73.5, 86, 69 and 78, respectively.
But UST accumulated a 10-point deduction in which could have been a 648 total points for third place. Adamson, meanwhile, only had a two-point deduction.
“Nasayangan lang talaga ako kasi the difference was so little and (the deduction) was because of very avoidable errors naman,” he said.
While he was disappointed with the squad’s gymnastics routine which cost them six points, Chaiwalla commended the team’s improvement in the pyramid category after placing fourth with no deductions.
“(They) touched the floor kasi and that is not allowed so deduction ‘yon sa part namin pero our pyramids were solid,” he said.
But despite falling short, the second-year tactician lauded his wards.
“I’m still really happy with their performance, they still did well and what happened served as a reminder for us that we really still have a lot to improve on,” he said.
He added that Salinggawi’s podium absence this season just fuelled its hunger to bounce back next year.
Salinggawi is the winningest team in UAAP cheerdance history with eight titles alongside UP.
