It’s a fiesta at Diliman after the University of the Philippines Pep Squad jumped back to the top spot in the 2010 UAAP Cheerdance Competition at the Araneta Coliseum.

UP dropped to 3rd place last year after bagging back-to-back championships beforehand.

The team’s fiesta-themed routine, which featured various Filipino fiestas and celebrations, such as the Ati-atihan, Sunflower and MassKarra festivals, managed to grab the judges favor, giving them an accumulated score of 440.9 from the five judges.

Coach NJ Antonio of the UP Pep Squad said that consistent to the team’s theme for the past few years, this year’s performance is rooted from the Filipinos’ colorful culture.

“Ini-incorporate namin yung flavor ng Pilipino tapos nilalapat namin sa sayaw,” said Antonio. He added that while cheering came from the west, they aim to establish a a style that is distinctly Filipino.

Coming in as 1st runner up is last year’s champion, the FEU Cheering Squad, who garnered an accumulated score of 421.4 from the judges with their Asian Warriors theme. Regaining entry to the top 3 is the Salinggawi Dance Troupe whose White Tiger routine gave them an accumulated score of 407.5.

Photos by Justin de Jesus. Headline photo by Roehl Niño Bautista.