Adamson University Pep Squad claimed its first and, so far, only UAAP Cheerdance Competition title in Season 80. However, they have yet to secure another championship since then.
Despite this, the team, led by head coach Jam Lorenzo—who guided them to their lone championship—has remained hopeful. With Lorenzo still at the helm, there’s always the possibility of good things to come for the Klasmeyts from San Marcelino.
In the Season 87 edition of the competition, with all eyes on the reigning champion Far Eastern University Cheering Squad and the recent powerhouse National University Pep Squad, Adamson stole the spotlight, despite performing fourth.
Grooving to karaoke favorites like “Breathless” by The Corrs, “Dancing Queen” by ABBA, and “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, the Adamson Pep Squad amassed 679.5 points. Although there was a significant gap from the eventual eight-time champion NU, who finished with 713 points, Adamson ended as the first runner-up.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Unang-una, sobrang overwhelmed kami sa blessing na ‘to na nakabalik kami sa podium. Sobrang hirap and alam namin na lahat ng sacrifices namin this season, and, especially last season, paid off lahat siya,” said Lorenzo.
Consistency is another word that best describes the squad. With this runner-up finish, they achieved their sixth podium finish in the last eight editions of the competition. Lorenzo is proud of the program’s direction.
“Every year kasi people come and go sa team. May gruma-graduate, may pumapasok, kaya ‘yung adjustment talaga ‘yung challenge sa ‘min every year. And, iba-ibang tao, iba-ibang personalities. We only have 35 members, so 25 lang do’n ‘yung nagco-compete. Minsan may mga members kami na hindi kinakaya ‘yung training and so, nauuwi kami sa mga taong kung sino lang talaga ‘yung nandya’n,” added the long-time head coach.
Despite the strength of the program, Lorenzo and his coaching staff continually find ways to improve themselves amid the overall improvement from all participating teams.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“After the pandemic, lahat ng tao affected mentally. Kaya cinonsider namin siya, nag-change kami ng training program at some point,” he reflected.
“Blessing siya, ‘yung podium finishes namin, and ko as the coach of the team for the past eight seasons ‘no. So, we consider it a blessing and we consider it a lesson also every year kahit ano man ‘yung makukuha naming place every season.”
Lorenzo and the squad remain positive that someday, the elusive second title will finally be achieved.
“Sabi ko nga sa team bago kami lumabas from the (mats), we were a step behind the GOAT. So, it’s a challenge for us to sustain the program and also to develop it pa for us to come up with a routine na kayang mag-champion,” he said.
“It can be anyone’s game naman talaga ‘yan every year. Kahit gaano pa kadami ‘yung members mo sa team, 25 kayong sasalang diyan. At the end of the day, it all boils down how you handle ‘yung pressure. As coach, hindi naman namin maha-handle ‘yung takbo ng utak ng mga bata, pero ang magagawa na lang namin is ma-motivate sila. ‘Yan ‘yung challenge sa ‘min every year.”
