For Far Eastern University, consistency isn’t just tradition — it has become a legacy carved in precision, resilience, and pride.
The FEU Cheering Squad reaffirmed that stature after notching a record 23rd podium finish in the UAAP Season 88 Cheerdance Competition, securing a second straight bronze despite a heartbreakingly slim 0.5-point gap from back-to-back runner-up Adamson University.
That razor-thin margin was something long-time head coach Randell San Gregorio viewed with both pride and lingering questions. The Morayta-based squad battled through the final stretch of preparations, struggling to perfect their Filipino childhood games-inspired routine because of its high-difficulty elements.
“Well, una sa lahat, sobrang saya namin sa room eh,” he said. “We were struggling to hit the routine, getting closer to the competition. And ang sabi ko sa kanila, ‘O, basta ‘pag na-hit natin ‘to ha, sobrang saya na natin; ok na.’ So, ayun kami.
“Pero technically, second kami eh, but because of the 20-plus points deduction, hindi. Pero ok lang, gano’n talaga, breaks of the game.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On paper, FEU held significant advantages over Adamson: tumbling (90.5 to 79.5), stunts (90–85.5), tosses (79–77), choreography (96.5–95), technique (142.5–139.5), and group execution (67–66).
But the 22-point deduction became the deciding factor. Adamson edged FEU in pyramids (84–81.5), and both squads tied with 33.5 points in dance overall effect.
San Gregorio broke down the deductions, noting that some rulings were clearer than others.
“Yung isa, may nalaglag kasi na ribbon. So, lesson ‘yun sa’min, [na] ‘wag na mag-ribbon kasi panira lang siya. Ta’s ‘yung isa, meron kaming deduction kasi may binuhat kami na may prop. Pero I don’t want to explain further kasi before naman ina-allow ‘yun.”
After two decades coaching in the CDC, the seasoned mentor admitted he was puzzled by what he felt was a sudden shift toward stricter implementation.
“I mean, this is my 20th year coaching in CDC, so more or less medyo kabisado ko naman ‘yung rules. Pero nagtataka lang ako na biglang naging strict sa implementation,” he said.
“Tapos sobrang basic lang nung ginawa naming compared to previous years na mas delikado ‘yung pagbuhat… Pero OK lang, gano’n talaga eh.”
Although he withheld deeper comment out of respect for the process, San Gregorio emphasized the need for consistency moving forward — something he intends to raise in the proper venue.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“No comment, kasi I’m running on emotions,” he said.
“It has to be consistent because it hasn’t been for how many years already… Basta kami, podium pa rin kami.”
Despite the deductions and the breaks that didn’t fall their way, San Gregorio and the FEU Cheering Squad still embraced the bigger win: a seventh straight podium finish and yet another extension of their historic run.
“Super proud do’n kasi hindi naman madaling mag-podium,” he said. “Hindi ‘to kagaya before na ‘yung trifecta, ‘yung tatlo, FEU-UST-UP, ‘pag mabuo nila, alam mo na, automatic na agad. Ngayon kasi ang naglalaban talaga sa podium, lima. So hindi na talaga sure; kumbaga isang mali can really cause everything.
“So, ‘yung ma-maintain naming ‘yung seven years straight achievement na ‘yon on its own.”
