Perps cheer leaders reign

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help put on another superb overall performance to best a host of others and rule the 86th NCAA cheerleading competition for the second straight year before a big, roaring crowd at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The Perps made up for a faulty pyramid routine with a near-flawless effort in tumbling and tosses to overcome one of the toughest fields in the history of the meet.

At the end of their performance, the Perps garnered 300 points, edging Mapua and Jose Rizal, which also turned in a pair of impressive performances, for the top P100,000 purse.

The Cheering Cardinals fared better in the pyramid routine but failed to get enough points in the other departments and settled for runner-up finish with 290.5 points worth P60,000.

The Bombers, on the other hand, wound up third with 289.5 points and took home P50,000.

“We know we did well but we made some minor mistakes in our pyramid routine because it was really a difficult one,” said Ruf Valdolph Rosario, Perpetual Help’s coach.

“I’m so happy that we were able to win the title once again for Perpetual Help and I want to thank the students and the school for supporting us again,” he said.

It was the second title for Perpetual Help, the host next season, after emerging triumphant in the Fil-Oil/Flying V Pre-season cheering competitions last June.

Overall, the Perps won for the fifth straight time, including three from 2001 when the event was still called a cheerdance competition.

San Sebastian finished fourth with 275 and Emilio Aguinaldo came in fifth with 268 followed by Letran (267), Arellano U (246.5), St. Benilde (239.5) and San Beda (166.5).