Gone are the days when cheerleading is being used by collegiate events to spice up the competitions.
Cheerleading has become a centerpiece event and proof of this was the creation of the National Cheerleading Competition, which is now on its 14th season and about to unveil the first leg in Southern Luzon beginning Oct. 6 at the Robinsons Mall in Las Piñas.
NCC and ESPN5 forged a partnership that will bring in local cheerleaders in the country competing in different events of cheer, dance and drum line competitions.
Chot Reyes, former coach of Gilas Pilipinas, played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles during the 1980s and gave the importance of having the cheerleaders to rally behind their respective schools.
“Being a former varsity player myself, I knew the importance of the cheerleaders, trying to encourage our team every game and acting as our sixth man during the competitions,” added Reyes.
But there’s a greater importance in staging the NCC, which could serve as a pool of creating athletes that could compete and win medals in international events like the SEA Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.
“I can say that cheerleading has the potential of winning a medal not just in the Asian level, but probably in the world level and hopefully, the Olympics. If we’re going to include cheerleading in the SEA Games, I can say that there is a great chance for us to win the gold medal,” added Reyes.
According to Carlos Valdes, founder of the NCC, what makes cheerleaders distinct from other athletes is the mentality of being fearless.
“It requires courage over anxiety, resolve over doubt, discipline over comfort. You really have to be fearless,” Valdes said.
The 14th season of this event is expected to draw the top competing teams in the Southern Tagalog area where the qualifiers will make it to the national level of the cheer, dance and drum line competition, which will be held in March 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Over 300 competitors from different parts of the country will vie for supremacy In hope of representing the country to compete in the Asia and Oceania meet as well as the World Championships to be held in Orlando, Florida next year.