Catching Up On UP's UAAP Turn-Out!

UP Pep Squad's Competition Performance

So it seems that UP Pep Squad's routine landed them 3rd place at the 2009 UAAP last September 13, and I can't say that I'm surprised. While technically sound, I was a little disappointed that their performance lacked the unique flavor that they're known to bring year after year. I mean, who could forget 2008's Tribo: Sugod theme (tribal techno theme + grand finale disappearing act + The Naked Man), or 2007's UP Rocks theme (hello, they danced to the Ghostbusters theme? How awesome is that??)?

Don't get me wrong, though: I was impressed with this year's finale of "transforming" a carboard IKOT jeep and a bunch of pom-poms into our UP Seal (i.e. a parrot, haha), and that stunt was probably what got them into medal range. Still, I was hoping the 2-year championship streak would turn into a 3-year streak, if only because the UP Maroons basketball team is fricking hopeless (11 losses to 3 wins = 6th place out of 8 universities, sigh).

Other scores include: 1st place in Football (men's; why isn't football more popular in this country?), 1st place in Judo (women's; 3 years in a row, yay!), 2nd place in Volleyball (men's), 2nd place in Baseball (men's), 2nd place in Basketball (women's; hahahahaha, are you noticing a trend, here?), 2nd place in Swimming (women's), and a bunch of 3rd places for Tennis (men's), Table Tennis (men's and women's), Swimming (men's), Fencing (men's), and Tae Kwon Do (women's).

So to recap: UP women's teams place in medal range for Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Basketball (hahahahaha), and Swimming, while the men do well in Volleyball, Fencing, and Football. Yes, UP women are macho. :D

Also, I had hoped to see Arnis enter the UAAP before my college years were over, but I guess we've got a bit longer to wait. The last time I competed in what our association would call Pre-UAAP tournaments, we'd already had UP, ADMU, UST, and DLSU with legit teams, so all that was left was actually doing the paperwork. :( Oh, well.

I'm admittedly not much of a sports fan, but what graduate doesn't want to see their alma matter do well? Hopefully the UP Pep Squad will retake their throne next year, and here's hoping that our Basketball team (Women's, hahahaha), continues their uphill trek!