?One of the best things about National Cheerleading is representing our school. People from Manila didn?t even know the University of Cordilleras. Now they show us respect?
?EAT, SLEEP, AND CHEER.?

Those were the words that welcomed me at the Ynares Gym last Saturday, to the fifth season of the National Cheerleading Championship (NCC). I found myself right smack in, what else, ?cheermania.?

The girls wore eyeshadows to match their shiny satin uniforms, their hair pulled back so tightly that no creases were left on their faces. The boys all looked tall, buff, their biceps rock-solid enough to carry and throw a grown man around if they wanted to.

Indeed they looked like they meant business, and their business was to cheer.

Nineteen teams, among the country?s best, competed in the college division. Each team made it in a regional qualifier.

Champion again

The Central Colleges of the Philippines (CCP) Bobcats emerged the champion?314.5 points.

?The pressure to win NCC was really great especially since we?ve competed and came out as grand champion in the 2009 World Cup Cheer and Dance in Brisbane, Australia,? said Bobcats team captain Lester Go.

The Bobcats landed fourth spot last year?a big drop because they were the reigning back-to-back champion at that time.

However, none of their opponents took this as a sign that they were slowing down.

After all, the Bobcats could strike fear in the hearts of their opponents. They are known for their heart-stopping stunts and synchronized, clean routines. They have also beaten more popular cheerdance champions from UAAP and NCAA.

?We studied what was lacking in our team last year. We recruited and trained new dancers to replace the graduating members last year,? said Go.

Their victory was a heartbreak for the members of University of Cordilleras (UC), who got only 312.5 points. They ended up as runner-up?not bad for a team that debuted only last year, when they surprised everyone by placing second.

?One of the best things about NCC is representing our school. People from Manila didn?t even know UC and where it is. Now they show us respect,? said team captain Alfonso Fresnido Jr.

UC became the crowd favorite after the spectacular execution of a difficult transition in their three and a half-level pyramid. Their whole routine won a standing ovation from the audience.

They got the highest mark in the pyramids, basic elements, and tumbling, but lost in great numbers to the Bobcats in stunts and tosses. All the NCC judges are assigned to concentrate and assign a score to only one of the elements.

Injuries plagued last year?s champion University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Altas Perpsquad. More than three of their members had suffered injuries before the competition. They weren?t able to complete some tosses and pyramids because one of their flyers twisted her ankle. They dropped to third place, with 284 points.

One of the best things about their squad, however, was that none of them showed that they were in pain during their performance. Each member was smiling, then bouncing like their knees were made of spring.

De La Salle University Animo Squad jumped from 11th rank to fourth, with 274 points. They outperformed their rivals and UAAP?s cheerdance second placers, the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion (BBB).

BBB slid down to 11th from last year?s eighth ranking. Xavier University?s Crusader Cheer Force also slid down from fifth place to third.

College of St. Benilde, Centro Escolar University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Taguig were named the best in the All-Girls College Division.

Juniors

Taguig Science High School, Baguio City National High School, and Rizal High School were top placers in the High School Coed Division. The School of the Holy Spirit dominated the All-Girls High School division, followed by the Saint Pedro de Poveda College and St. Paul College Pasig.

The Junior division was introduced this year and Saint Pedro de Poveda College emerged on top, followed by St. Paul College Pasig and the School of Holy Spirit.

The tandem of Edlyn Andalio and Eduardo Tulang from the University of Makati became the first champions of the Partner Stunts division.

They impressed the judges with the transitions between the liberty lifts.

Their schoolmates Eneriza Bautista and Benedick Regencia placed third; Melanie Paguagan and Eman Serrano from Rizal Technological University placed second.

This year?s NCC was powered by Inquirer 2bU, Inquirer Libre?and the indomitable spirit that makes a great cheerio.