By Joshua Kyle Beltran

With their last podium appearance being in 2024, Far Eastern University (FEU) Street Alliance showed vulnerability in their seventh place finish during the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Street Dance Competition earlier today, May 3, at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

The Morayta-based dance group’s routine drew inspiration from ‘Mad Max’ to clinch an overall score of 87.83 points, with an artistic average of 43.60 and an execution average of 44.50. 

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Street Alliance lead coach Joaquin Santos acknowledged the team’s sacrifices, mentioning how this season was a ‘big deal’ for them.

“This is everything to us. We’ve poured months into this, and we’ve really prepared for this, so this is kind of the pinnacle of our sport in the UAAP. This is a really big deal for us,” he said.

As for graduating team captain Joseph Torres, this year being his last is what struck more than the loss.

“I got very emotional after nung awarding, partly because of losing, parang factor lang siya (it was just a factor) — pero mas masakit sa akin knowing that it will be my last. ‘Yun ‘yung pinakatumatak sa akin (But what hurt more was knowing this is my last season. That’s what struck me the most),” he expressed.

On the other hand, Santos acknowledged the growing competition between other schools while still giving the team their flowers.

“I feel like my team delivered to the best of their abilities. But it's just that everyone in the UAAP improved so much more than us. I feel like we did our best with what we have, so I’m really proud of my team for that,” he shared.

With this season’s theme deviating from their usual approach, Torres also explained how this season’s routine was more intense and took more of a physical toll than their previous ones.

University of the Philippines Streetdance Club emerged as back-to-back champions, while University of Santo Tomas Prime and La Salle Dance Company-Street finished with silver and bronze, respectively.

With FEU hosting Season 89, the Street Alliance is hungrier than ever to return to the podium next year.

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)