PH is cheerleading World Cup champion in Seoul

The International Cheer Union (ICU) declared the Southies Cheer Club as the first Filipino pep squad to score gold in the prestigious ICU World Cup in Seoul, South Korea.

Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the ICU is comprised of 119 national federations with 10 million athletes across several continents. Its annual world championships consistently gather participants from over 70 nations to vie for the Hip Hop, Pom and Cheerleading Divisions.This year, the Southies Cheer Club emerged as the top winner of the CoEd Elite Cheerleading Category. Beast All Star Cheer and Gumi University, both from South Korea, landed second and third places, respectively.

The Philippine delegation, which was founded only last summer, initially competed in the Open CoEd Elite Division of the National Cheerleading Championship. Despite a silver finish, they were tapped by Cheer Pilipinas, the governing body of cheerleading in the Philippines, to represent the country in Seoul.

The group held auditions wherein they handpicked former cheerleaders from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Assistant Coach Shawn Argel Delos Santos, a De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) alumnus, recalled the challenges the crew encountered along the way. There was lack of government funding and assistance that each member had to shell out approximately P100,000 each.

The squad comprised of fellow Benildeans Gerard Fueconcillo and Dina Mae Villamor, both from the School of Management and Information Technology.

Completing the roster are Harley Dave Baldo, Julius Diaz, Mcleinad Divina, Arvin Jay Forto, Wilfredo Gacelos, Gerriel Getutua, Andy Gerusalem, Jalven Labradores, Gerson Labrillaso, Ronniel Madrideo, Rod Vincent Manalo, Laurence Ojales, John Joseph Regua, Marvin Rivera, Jeanelyn Briones, Christine Danica Cabaloza, Jenny Ann Calleja, Trexei Delos Santos, Shayenn Eira Dinglasan and Dana Vivar.

Pola Raphaelle Cabidog, Hannah Alyssa Cortez, Matthew Orejas and Rodney Santos were the reserves.

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Also on the coaching staff were Marnelli Calleja-Regua as head, with Seth Christopher Santos, Arczael Enriquez and Kevin Chiel Copada.

The ICU World Cup Seoul 2023 likewise named University of the Philippines Streetdance Club the champion of the Hip Hop Category after gaining an advantage over the home country’s Myongji University and Team Korea.

DanSSA from the School of Saint Anthony, on the other hand, clinched a silver in the Junior Hip Hop. Meitoku High School Japan earned the gold while Team Korea ended with a bronze.