In Anticipation of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition: UST SDT Redemption?

The UST Salinggawi's routine last year showed the squad's vulnerability. Several evident errors cost them the dream of a double grand slam. Regardless, cheerdancing standards and essentials were met and exceeded. Had the team executed without errors, it would have still kept the coveted cheerdancing title.

In about 2 weeks, another cheerdance showdown will occur in the Araneta Coliseum. I’ve already booked my flight just to see this spectacular event. None of its kind had been as celebrated as the UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (UST SDT) will make its first attempt to recover its interrupted dynasty. During the 3-year drought, when UP had its good fortune to win the title, I was a pessimist for the SDT. I was a critic of its halftime performances. I was doing so in comparison to the SDT of the 90’s. When the group snatched the title from UP in 2002, I was dumbfounded. I thought what the heck were those halftime boo-boos for? The group made it up in the actual competition.

Since then my confidence in the SDT went up, although most of its halftime performances remained as practice sessions. They would, nevertheless, compensate for the mediocre halftimes, in the competition. They did this for 5 consecutive years prior to UP’s ‘thank God she fell’ chance for the championship last year.

As each team from the 7 universities now understand and are fully ripe for a chance for the cheerdance title by virtue of their year by year experiences, only UP has come close to Salinggawi’s legacy of cheering in the hard court. I applaud UP for coming this far in its quest to dominate the cheering arena. Every year I look at the competition only between UST and UP. The others fall behind as merely exhibition pieces. UP’s routine last year was a blast, I must admit. They were synchronized for the very first time, although not throughout the routine. Still, there were some parts where they scrambled and seemed incoherent towards the end.

UST on the other hand, capitalized on what they’re known for: excellent choreography, good choice of music, unparalleled synchronicity, perfect poise and grace. These remain to be seen in the other squads programs. Stunts and pyramids had become common ground for all, when UST used to own bragging rights for astounding execution. In fact, it has toned-down in that department as year after year, the same pyramids (although with variations) are used to the dismay of others who look forward to a certain height of caliber from these ‘used to be’ acrobatically trademarked cheerleaders. Besides, they’ve pioneered stunts and pyramids never before introduced in the country. Through the winning years, they’ve come out triumphant nonetheless.

The SDT used to be known as the fastest pyramid builders. Others caught on. UP and FEU can now brag of effecting difficult pyramids. Will this year be a comeback for the SDT in redemption to the banished marks and impressions? Can I anticipate a routine full of stunts and pyramids—another wow experience? Or will they remain compliant to the standards set up by the league and be safe in just accomplishing the requirements? If so, then I look forward to a routine similar to the one in 2004 and 2006. There were formations or parts in the routine that showed their agility and exceptional skills. No other teams were equal in that specialty. I believe that if this year’s routine involves an element where only the Salinggawi can do so well, they can seize the trophy back into their hands.

I am a Thomasian who believes in the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. But then again, as their mentor, Ryan Silva once said: We perform with no thought of winning. We do our best, have fun and make sure that the Thomasian crowd enjoys it.

With that in mind, win or lose the UST Salinggawi remains in the Hall of Fame for cheerdancing and cheerleading. They set the trend—they made everybody stand up and get better. They spearheaded cheerleading and made everyone eager to improve. This is the legacy of the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. Too bad, not everyone see and know this fact.

Video Uploaded in YouTube by sixthon07.

UAAP Season 71: Count UST in the Battle!

With the most number of overall championships in the UAAP (10 consecutive & 35 overall titles) in its sleeves, UST should not be discounted in this UAAP 71st Season.

Opening rites will be on Saturday & darn I won’t be able to see it. What’s more is that I won’t be around to watch the games. Before I made the decision to move here in Cebu, the UAAP games weighed so much as I had to make the consideration to let go of it.

I’ve been a UAAP-UST fan (‘die hard’ fan at that) since 1994 & I was active through the years as a spectator of the Tigers’ games. It was only in 1996-1998 that I missed the league as I was out of town doing an important work. Nevertheless, I was stained by the glorious blood that was drawn from the De LaSalle Green Archers in those historic season victories of 1994-1996. That was a grand slam of conquest over the Archers!

Through the years, I was an eye-witness of the Tigers’ rise to glory & its decline to the cellar. In 2006, my long awaited championship in 10 years happened before my eyes as UST incredibly outdone the Ateneo Blue Eagles to win its 19th Men’s Basketball Title (the most number of MBB Titles in the UAAP).

Despite that glorious comeback, UST failed to defend the title last season.

As excitement is undeniably felt as the 71st season begins this weekend, I am unfulfilled as I am away from the event, being unable to tangibly witness ‘Tiger Power’ & the ‘Black-Gold-White’ frenzied Thomasian crowd. All these years I’ve been part of that crowd, born of school-spirit, cheering my heart out for the Growling Tigers.

My heart breaks even more knowing that the team brought in good recruits. In contrast, FEU & ADMU has become stronger from last season, while DLSU, as always, is the team to beat. This equate to an exciting season!

As a synopsis, The 15th Parallel website has this to say about UST:

Overview: The 2006 UAAP Basketball Champion UST Tigers came short of their title defense last year by virtue of losing to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the step-ladder format of the semifinals. The Tigers were best remembered last year, especially by the La Salle fans, for the 4th quarter and overtime scare that the Tigers gave to the Archers which La Salle would rather forget. This year, UST again returns to the battleground with their unpredictable and never-say-die attitude of basketball. They return to the hardcourt with their unrelenting resolve and determination. Nothing much will change for UST save for some rookies that will enter in place of the veterans who have departed.Why should you root for them: Jervy Cruz, Pido Jarencio, Japs Cuan's desperate attempt to make a shot that's not a layup and Chester "I almost have no business playing in the UAAP" Taylor.

Roster Changes: Most notable departures for the Tigers will be Espiritu (first name forgotten), June Dizon and Jun Cortez. Two of the additions will be Allen Maliksi from the planet X and the rare recruitment of Jeric Fortuna from DLSZ. Milan Vargas and Chris Camus, whose origins are still unknown, will also both suit up for the black-gold black-white this season. Shooter Clark Bautista will also be one of the up and coming rookies for the Tigers. Despite the influx of youth in to the UST lineup, there will be a lot of incoming senior players this season for UST and most notable of them is incoming senior guard Japs Cuan. Ah, better freethrow shooting for UST. Main fixtures will be people like Jervy Cruz, Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza, etc. Coach Pido Jarencio will most likely be fielding the same starting lineup from last year.

Bench: According to research of T15P, the bench of UST will mostly be composed of young and upcoming guns, but do not be deceived as they have a lot of firepower, especially with Bautista, Maliksi, Camus and Fortuna around. It's really hard to figure out the current bench of UST as it is filled with mostly unknowns and rookies who are deceptively good. They have guys who can quickly put points in the board and they also have guys who will be specially tasked to hustle and be the bruisers for the team. All of them are surprises waiting to happen except for Clark Bautista who was a sought-after commodity in the summer recruitment battle, notably pursued by UST and Ateneo. 4th year shooter Dylan Ababou will figure in a leading role with UST's bench, according to the research.

Gameplan: Offensively, their first option will obviously be Jervy Cruz in the middle and Pido Jarencio will just let Jervy beat the hell out of clueless big men in the middle of the shaded lane. This is also the play to get all of those rebounds for Jervy. Japs Cuan will not be allowed to shoot away within 2ft of the basket while Dylan Ababou and Khasim Mirza will be allowed to fire away at their heart's content. Cuan, however, will do the drive and drop at will. His main recipient will be Cruz. Or some other Tiger lost in the shaded lane. Expect that Cuan will also do the drive and draw for the shooters. Even though he can't hit anything that's not a layup.

Go-to-guy: I'm guessing you're thinking Jervy Cruz right now. What? It's not a trick question. Ass. It's really Jervy Cruz. The 3rd year big man will be the focal point of the UST offense while Japs Cuan will be the driving force with his daredevil drives. God forbid that it's his shooting. With a double-double and a MVP season for Jervy Cruz last year, there's no doubt that he is the top tiger for the Tigers this season.

Outlook: Final four contender; can beat anyone in the playing field. One of the upcoming season's dark horses. Playing under the radar will definitely be UST's theme this season.

The Thomasian heart within me is pounding in anticipation for another UST comeback. Nevertheless, because of the number of rookies in the team, yet promising at that, I can take on this season as the building phase in preparation for the 400-yr feat in 2011. If a UST championship can brew from the outskirts, that wouldn’t be bad at all.