The highly-anticipated UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition ushers in a unique opportunity for reigning champions NU Pep Squad as they stand to become the first team to win nine CDC titles in its program history.
Already tied with former powerhouses UP Pep Squad and UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe with eight titles apiece, NU is shaping up to be the main candidate to break through for that coveted ninth title and become the winningest cheer team in the UAAP.
[RELATED: UAAP urges fans to wear white in show of solidarity at Cheerdance Competition]
However, UP and UST will be eager to reclaim their lost glory, while recent champions FEU and Adamson will be out to prove that they can once again stand atop the CDC podium.
La Salle, Ateneo, and UE, meanwhile, will be looking to establish themselves as consistent contenders.
Let’s take a look at how each team is shaping up ahead of the competition.
UP is coming off of a 6th place finish in Season 87. | Photo: The UAAP
UP Varsity Pep Squad
2024 Result: 6th place
2025 theme: Filipino Christmas
Last championship: 2012
The UP Varsity Pep Squad has had a storied program in the UAAP Cheerdance competition, but since the early 2010s, the team has struggled to get back into its glory days.
Following a string of finishes outside the podium, the Diliman-based pep squad will be eager to get back into its winning ways. Tied with UST and NU as one of the winningest programs in UAAP CDC history, UP will use the Filipino spirit of Christmas in a bid to return to the podium.
As the team with the most podium finishes in competition history, UP Pep will be looking to atone for a 6th place finish in Season 87.
Can they take it up a notch?
UE is coming off of a 4th place finish in Season 87. | Photo: The UAAP
UE Pep Squad
2024 Result: 4th place
2025 theme: High School Musical
Last championship: N/A
The UE Pep Squad is breaking free.
Having shown signs of brilliance in recent years, the Mendiola-based squad will be aiming for their first podium finish since 2017.
Harping on a nostalgic audience with the music of hit Disney movie High School Musical, the UE Pep Squad will attempt to Bop to the Top and win their first-ever CDC title. Following a fourth place finish in last year’s edition, UE Pep is reaching for the sky.
Will UE be soaring, flying?
Adamson is coming off of a 2nd place finish in Season 87. | Photo: The UAAP
Adamson Pep Squad
2024 Result: 2nd
2025 theme: Exploration
Last championship: 2017
Adamson University has proven itself as a dark horse contender in recent years.
After winning it all in 2017, the San Marcelino cheerers have been slowly but surely building their status as legitimate threats to powerhouses.
Having broken the streak of NU before, they will look to play spoiler once again and deny NU a coveted 9th title in the CDC. With the theme “exploration,” Adamson will attempt to open up a whole new world of cheerdance prowess.
Following a second place finish last year, can they get a breakthrough anew?
DLSU is coming off of a 7th place finish in Season 87. | Photo: The UAAP
DLSU Animo Squad
2024 Result: 7th place
2025 theme: Baseball
Last championship: N/A
The DLSU Animo Squad are raring for the chance to burst out of their shell and hopefully get themselves going as a contender in UAAP cheerdance.
La Salle is ready to hit the ball out of the park with a Baseball-inspired routine to knock the socks off of the judges — and the UAAP community — to show what the team's got.
Facing a 12-year drought in podium finishes, La Salle will be eager to reignite its bid for glory on the mats, especially after a 7th place finish in Season 87.
Can the Animo Squad get a home run?
Ateneo is coming off of an 8th place finish in Season 87. | Photo: The UAAP
Ateneo Blue Eagles
2024 Result: 8th place
2025 theme: Sing
Last championship: N/A
The Eagles are ready to take flight.
Eager to count themselves among the best of the best in cheerdance, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are up for the challenge to exceed expectations and make a name for themselves in the mats.
In an interesting turn of events, Ateneo hopes to use the power of song with a “Sing”-inspired theme for its routine in UAAP Season 88. With their lone podium finish coming last in 2009, the Blue Eagles are hungry for redemption.
Will Ateneo face the music and get themselves on top?
NU is gunning for a 9th CDC crown after a 1st place finish in Season 87. | Photo: The UAAP
NU Pep Squad
2024 Result: 1st place
2025 theme: Ninja
Last championship: 2024
Greatness can wear disguises.
But the NU Pep Squad’s dominance is undoubtedly recognizable, and as they chase history and glory, the Jhocson-based cheer squad targets something that’s never been done before.
Establishing themselves as the standard for UAAP Cheerdance over the past decade, NU is set to perform a routine with a “Ninja” theme — setting themselves up as quiet, but deadly threats to become the best of the best in their craft.
With targets on their backs as the defending champions, the NU Pep Squad hope to blow the roof.
Can they continue their dominance?
FEU is coming off of a 3rd place finish in Season 87. | Photo: The UAAP
FEU Cheering Squad
2024 Result: 3rd place
2025 theme: Filipino Childhood Games
Last championship: 2023
The FEU Cheering Squad are arguably the biggest contenders against NU’s recent dominance.
In the past few editions, FEU has been the streak-buster — winning two of the last four editions alongside the NU Pep Squad.
Following a third place finish in Season 87, FEU targets a return to the top and possibly sour NU’s bid for the elusive 9th title in the CDC. Their secret weapon? The nostalgia for a Filipino Childhood.
In a bid for redemption, FEU hopes to patintero its way back to CDC glory.
Will FEU continue its tug of war with NU?
UST is coming off of a 5th place finish in Season 87. | Photo: The UAAP
UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe
2024 Result: 5th place
2025 theme: Halloween
Last championship: 2006
There’s nothing scarier than a former powerhouse desperate to rediscover their winning ways.
With decades in between since the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe has been synonymous with UAAP Cheerdance success, the España cheerdancers are raring for a taste of glory once again.
It may be closer to Christmas, but UST is hoping to show just how terrifyingly good they are.
In the spirit of “Ghost-USTE,” the Salinggawi Dance Troupe will rise from the grave and rekindle the flame of their powerhouse team after last winning it all back in 2006.
Can the season hosts be the first to nine titles?
The UAAP Cheerdance Competition unfurls at 2:00 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, November 29.
—
Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.