JRU, Perpetual head NC cheerleading cast

MANILA, Philippines - The 2009 NCAA Cheerleading unfolds on Oct. 21 at The Arena City with a total of 10 teams headed by defending champion Jose Rizal and national cheerleading champion Perpetual vying for the top purse and bragging rights as the best in cheerleading.

The league’s Management Committee chaired by Jose Mari Lacson of Season 85 host San Beda and cheerleading committee chair Henry Atayde of St. Benilde launched the annual event in a press conference at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

“We’re excited because we have instituted some changes that should make this year’s edition more exciting than before,” said Atayde.

The league earlier decided 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 event,” said NCC national director and head coach Paula dela Llana-Nunag.

Lacson, 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 on the fast-growing sport as well as its safety measures.

The champion team will take home the top purse worth P90,000 while the second and third placers will pocket P55,000 and P45,000, respectively, courtesy of Samsung.

Jose Rizal, which pulled off a stunner by pulling off an improbable win last season, should be one of the favorites this year as well as Perpetual Help, a former three-peat champion, and Mapua, a former winner.

The competition should also pay extra attention on the Perps Squad, which not only topped the NCC finals last year but the cheerleading competition early this year in an event where they bested last year’s UAAP titlist State U and reigning UAAP champion Far Eastern U.