Nemesis Clinches Victory on Third Attempt at Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final in Cebu

Nemesis Wins Title at Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final in Cebu | Photo by Red Bull

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – After months of high-energy qualifier rounds in Davao, Manila, and Cebu, the excitement peaked as the Queen City of the South proudly hosted the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines National Final for the first time. On May 24, the nation’s top dancers converged at Ayala Center Cebu for an electrifying showdown.

Historic Dance Showdown in Cebu

The country’s finest dancers went head-to-head at the National Final in Cebu, igniting the stage with a dynamic blend of styles—from hip-hop and house to waacking, locking, and voguing. The atmosphere was electric, with every outcome decided by the energy and cheers of the crowd. In the end, Sam Rivera, known on the battle scene as ‘Nemesis,’ emerged victorious as the 2025 Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines National Champion.

“It was an amazing journey,” said Nemesis of her Red Bull Dance Your Style journey. “This was my third time to join Red Bull Dance Your Style. I’m so happy that I won the championship title in my hometown, Cebu. It’s my pride and honor.”

Photo by Red Bull

Nemesis also expressed her excitement at having the National Final in Cebu for the first time. “I was so excited because people (from my hometown) will get to see me dance on the national stage, especially my mother, my family, and my friends.” She explained, “I think that I was more empowered because my family was here with me, and while I was on stage, I could see my friends, so that gave me a boost.”

Nemesis also credited the Cebuano crowd for energizing her throughout the competition. She said, “They carried me through the Final. I’m so grateful to them because the community here is so supportive, not just to me but to all the contestants who danced on stage. And of course, Red Bull, who gave me wings. Thank you for the energy.

Photo by Red Bull

With their undeniable stage presence and crowd-commanding charisma, the Cebuana Krump Star stamped her dominance each round and earned the trophy and a spot on the global stage. As the representative of the Philippines at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in Los Angeles, USA, Nemesis now has her sights set on the next battle. They shared their enthusiasm for the World Final, stating, “First of all, it’s going to be in Los Angeles, and it’s going to be my first time travelling outside Asia.” She also said, “I want to connect with other dancers from around the world, and dance my heart out at the World Final to show them what Filipinos are capable of.” 

Nemesis shared how she plans to prepare for the World Final, saying, “I will do my usual routine. I will train my body, my mind, and my soul.” She also said, ”I think that (has to be) a balance of everything, your faith in God, your physical conditioning, and strong mental conditioning when you perform.” 

On her game plan for the World Final, Nemesis shared, “I’ll just be myself because I think we’re all unique in our own way. I’ll just show them what I can do, how I krump, and how I dance.”

The Full Red Bull Dance Your Style Experience

More than just a series of intense dance battles, the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final in Cebu evolved into a vibrant cultural celebration, offering attendees an unforgettable and immersive experience.

In addition to world-class street dance battles, guests experienced the rich talent of Cebu with special performances by Cabuana superstar Karencitta and local dance crew SZHD. More than just a competition, the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final became a vibrant showcase of Cebu’s urban creativity and cultural spirit.

Nemesis’ Next Stop: the World Stage

The countdown to the ultimate dance showdown is on! Show your support for Nemesis as he represents the Philippines at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in Los Angeles, USA, on October 11. Stay tuned and follow the latest updates on social media for Red Bull PH and Red Bull Dance.

For more details and the latest updates, visit the official Red Bull website and follow Red Bull on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Cebu Brought the Heat at Red Bull Dance Your Style 2025 Qualifiers

Playmaker takes the crown! | Photo by Red Bull PH

Cebu City, Philippines – The Red Bull Dance Your Style 2025 Cebu Qualifiers lit up ICON, Cebu, last May 17 with an adrenaline night of freestyle battles, surprise beats, and raw, unfiltered energy. Cebu’s best dancers stepped up, brought the fire, and left everything on the floor before a packed, electrified crowd.

With no judges and set playlists, the crowd had all the power, voting round after round to decide who moved forward and who would represent Cebu at the upcoming National Finals.

Here’s how the battle went down during the Cebu Qualifiers:

🔥 Elimination Round (Red vs Blue):

Khlai vs Cami – Khlai

Gen. Max vs Playmaker – Playmaker

Hei vs Monadikos – Monadikos

Aries vs Popping Gee – Popping Gee

Astroboy vs Naz – Astroboy

Baby Titan vs Anointed – Baby Titan

Titan vs JULZ007 – Titan

Y3GA vs JPY – JPY

🔥 Quarterfinals:

Khlai vs Playmaker – Playmaker

Monadikos vs Popping Gee – Popping Gee

Astroboy vs Baby Titan – Baby Titan

Titan vs JPY – JPY

🔥 Semifinals:

Playmaker vs Popping Gee – Playmaker

Baby Titan vs JPY – JPY

JPY | Red Bull Dance Your Style 2025 | Photo by Red Bull PH

🔥 Final Battle:

Playmaker vs JPY – 🏆 Playmaker takes the crown!

Playmaker takes the crown! | Red Bull Dance Your Style | | Photo by Red Bull PH

🌟 Top 4 Cebu Finalists for the National Finals:

Playmaker (Cebu Champion)

Popping Gee

Baby Titan

JPY

These four phenomenal dancers will be repping Cebu in the highly anticipated Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals this coming Saturday, May 24, 2025—also happening here in Cebu!

Catch the top freestyle dancers from all over the Philippines as they go head-to-head in the ultimate dance battle. Expect high energy, jaw-dropping moves, surprise tracks, and a crowd-powered format that keeps everyone guessing.

📍 Where: The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu

📅 When: May 24, 2025 | 3:00 PM

#RedBullDanceYourStyle

#DYSCebu

#RedBullPH

#RedBullDanceYourStyle2025

Red Bull Dance Your Style Showcases Cebu’s Dance Scene Qualifiers

Cebu, Philippines — On July 13, at APEX Super Club, the city of Cebu came alive with rhythm and intensity for the Red Bull Dance Your Style Qualifiers. The best dancers in Cebu competed head-to-head for a berth in the next National Finals, showcasing their amazing talents and skills.

L-R: Nemesis and Khlai | Photo by Red Bull

Red Bull Dance Your Style is a worldwide one-on-one street dancing competition that recognizes and promotes the uniqueness and creativity of dancers worldwide. Dancers must do freestyle routines to unexpected music and display their incredible improvisational abilities. The unique battle format of the global competition, in which the audience decides the competitors who advance to the next round, makes it stand out. 

APEX Super Club Cebu / Photo by Red Bull

The competition was fierce with 16 dancers showcasing a stunning array of dance styles. The audience was completely amazed by the outstanding performances by the Cebu qualifier finalists. The Top 4 were JPY (Jeffrey Casas Toledo), Khlai (Khlai Vargaso Batula), Nemesis (Sam Rivera), and Baby Titan (Shihan Maui Ricablanca). Nemesis won following a tough set of combat rounds. She won first place and a trip to the National Finals thanks to her impeccable performances throughout the competition.

“(It) feels great,” remarked Nemesis, who also participated in last year’s Cebu qualifier. “Last year, I only won second place, so this serves as my redemption.”

Nemesis stated that competing with other dance crew members, "Underground," was one of the tournament's highlights for her. She said, “This year, there are a lot of dancers from outside Cebu; some are my friends, and some I just met during the competition. I think one of the highlights for this year is meeting new friends and competitors.”

Nemesis in action. | Photo by Red Bull

When asked how she plans to prepare for the National Finals, she said, “Since the competition for the National Finals is already filtered from Baguio, Davao, and Manila, I need to level up my training.”

Khlai, the first runner-up who also guaranteed her spot in the National Finals, expressed her happiness at making it to the competition. “It feels so surreal, I don’t even know where to begin,” she said. 

Khlai shared that her late grandfather motivated her to join the competition despite her long-term knee injury. “Today is the birthday of my grandfather, who passed away. The performance that I did was dedicated to my grandfather and grandparents.”

In preparation for the National Finals, Khlai said she wanted to work on her stamina, stating, “I don’t really prepare that long or have a specific training, but I’ll try to do cardio for my stamina so that I can keep up with the dancers.”

Philippine All-Stars legends and dance consultants Lema Diaz and Vince Mendoza were seen at the event. “All I can say is that (the competition) was full of inspiration and new faces,” said Vince Mendoza. “Compared to last year, we multiplied by a lot. Many dancers supported Red Bull Dance Your Style, and the skills really leveled up from last year.”

“Nemesis had really unpredictable moves and undeniable skills,” said Mendoza. 

Khlai in action | Photo by Red Bull

He expressed his excitement for the next round of qualifiers, saying, “It’s going to be more crazy. We’re excited for the Manila qualifiers. There’s a lot of dancers and new faces. I’m excited that I can witness that moment.”

Asked for advice he wanted to give dancers competing in the National Finals, Mendoza said, “We always tell them to have fun no matter what. Win or lose, it’s all about the transformation. If you win, there’s transformation. If you lose, there’s transformation. It’s all about giving love to the community, the next generation, the OGs, our past, present, and future.”

All eyes are now focused on the exciting next round of action following the conclusion of the Cebu qualifiers. The Manila qualifiers for Red Bull Dance Your Style will occur at Octopus Makati on July 27, 2024. Devoted dancers will compete nationwide in hopes of shining in the World Finals. 

Take a piece of the action! Watch the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines team heading to the World Finals in India on November 9, 2024, and watch for the last qualifying round. 

Witness the Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines National Finals in September. You won’t want to miss this!

For more information and updates regarding this year’s season of Red Bull Dance Your Style, visit the official Red Bull website and the following social media pages (Facebook | Instagram | Tiktok )

About Red Bull

Red Bull gives wings to people and ideas. As a functional beverage, we give wings to people by vitalizing the body and mind – supporting their dreams and aspirations through their passion for dance.

Red Bull Half Court National Finals: From the Philippines to New York: Full Swing!

 Red Bull Half Court National Finals: From the Philippines to New York: Full Swing!

Photo Provided by Red Bull

MANILA, Philippines - Following the most recent regional match held in Manila on April 27 at the Bonifacio Shrine, the Philippines has confirmed that its representatives will compete at the Red Bull Half Court 2024 in New York City, USA. 

Teams from across the country have shown amazing sportsmanship, ability, and determination on the court, making the journey to this point nothing short of remarkable and entertaining. The Red Bull Half Court series this year has been intense, featuring everything from thrilling buzzer-beaters to jaw-dropping dunks. However, only the top twenty-four teams—eight men's qualifying teams, eight men's wildcard teams, four women's qualifying teams, and four wildcard teams—remain to compete in the Red Bull Half Court 2024 National Finals. 

The qualifying teams who wished to compete in New York last April 27 met off in the court. Gerald Anderson, an actor and basketball fanatic, attended with his squad, 3rd Floor. They made it to the Quarterfinals after going through the Pool Phase and playing four other teams. They made a great attempt, but TNT Tropang Giga defeated them with a score of 12-11. 

Photo Provided by Red Bull

“It was recommended to me. I was looking for a basketball event to compete in and Red Bull Half Court was perfect,” Gerald Anderson said, explaining how he came to know about the event. “Red Bull Half Court is intense,” he commented. “(It’s) very hot due to the intense heat, but overall the concept is great for everyone.”

In the end, Sam Harada, Kaye Pingol, Eunique Chan, and Afril Bernardino of Uratex Dream and Almond Vosotros, Levin Flores, Chester Saldua, and Matt Salem of TNT Tropang Giga earned the precious chance to represent the Philippines in the Red Bull Half Court 2024 World Finals. Their diligence and commitment have paid off, and these qualities have advanced them toward their ultimate objective. 

"Red Bull provided a lot of opportunities for the basketball community in the Philippines, from Cebu, (to) Davao, and here in Manila. It really is a great help for all of the players and we hope that Red Bull will continue this event (Red Bull Half Court) every year or even better if possible twice or thrice a year for everyone to play and participate " exclaimed Almond Vosotros from TNT Tropang Giga.

Kaye Pingol from Uratex Dream expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm to Red Bull for providing women an opportunity to be seen in a bigger stage, “Red Bull Half Court is a big win for our team, especially (since) women’s basketball isn’t often seen or given a bigger platform here in the Philippines.”

The Philippine All Stars, Pricetagg, Zae, and DJ Razikyle performed at the Red Bull Half Court 2024 National Finals in addition to the exciting on-court matches. Their electrifying routines added a new level of enjoyment to the event by showcasing the Philippines' vibrant cultural scene in addition to their amazing agility.

Additionally, in between the basketball games and artistic presentations, guests were treated to a Raco Ruiz art exhibition. His distinct artistic vision gave the occasion a dash of uniqueness and flair. To better assist the local community in Manila, Red Bull, Raco Ruiz, and the Manila Local Government (LGU) restored a basketball court that was chosen, painting a mural on the floor and hoop backstops. Live art exhibits on the hoop backstops enhanced the spectacle and brought attention to the nation's artistic and athletic talent. 

Photo Provided by Red Bull 

With their heads held high, the winning teams, TNT Tropang Giga and Uratex Dream, the winning teams, are preparing to represent the Philippines at the Red Bull Half Court 2024 World Finals, where they're going to take on strong teams from different regions.

“This is a really big opportunity, not only for us but women’s basketball in general, to have an opportunity to showcase our talent, and we are extremely happy that we won and will be representing the Philippines in New York,” said Kaye Pingol of Uratex Dream. 

The world's top street basketball players will compete in a memorable series of competitions at the Red Bull Half Court 2024 World Finals, which will take place in New York this October. Every squad brings the aspirations and hopes of a country bound by a shared passion for the game with them as they gear up for the next challenge. 

For more information and updates regarding the World Finals of Red Bull Half Court, visit the Red Bull website and the following social media pages (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok) 

About Red Bull

Red Bull gives wings to people and ideas. As a functional beverage, we give wings to people by vitalizing the body and mind – supporting their dreams and aspirations through their passion for sports.

Cebu Crowns the City’s Representative in the National Finals of Red Bull Half Court 2023

Cebu, Philippines - Last May 20, over 90 streetballer teams in Cebu went head-to-head to determine the Top 6 teams who will move on to the National Finals of Red Bull Half Court. The winner-takes-all event will crown the country’s representative for the World Finals of Red Bull Half Court in Serbia on September 2023.

The tournament featured an intense and high-paced series of basketball games from various regional teams. The competitive atmosphere was felt throughout the event, which played a crucial role in the event’s success.

“Basketball is the number 1 sport in the Philippines, so 3x3 is another platform that people can really take part in. Taking part in this type of event really gives people the opportunity to play the sport that they love with their friends and peers. From the looks of it, they’re all enjoying themselves playing in the Red Bull Half Court,” said Coach Eric Altamirano, the Tournament Commissioner of Red Bull Half Court Philippines.

“We look forward to the qualifiers in Manila. I’m sure we’ll find a lot of really good teams, excellent teams, and they will be challenged. Everybody wants to grab a slot going to Serbia for the World Finals,” Coach Altamirano added.

Following a gruelling series of matches, the following teams are moving on to the National Finals are:

Men’s Division:

● Team SRP
● Team Triple R1
● Team EMILS1
● Team PJEM

Women’s Division:

● Team EVSU A
● Team GS CWBL

One notable athlete who dominated the tournament alongside her teammates was Team EVSU A’s Diana Rebecca Paton-og. The Ball Captain expressed the challenges they had to endure headed into the event and how they overcame all the odds to secure their spot as one of the region’s representatives.

“Before kami napunta dito, grabe yung preparation namin. ‘Di rin kami sure if makapunta kami dito kasi yung isang teammate namin, nagka-ankle sprain, so we had to replace her. So yung mindset dapat panalunin talaga namin ‘to kasi ang dami na pinagdaanan namin. Wala rin kaming budget, yung coach lang namin. Siya lang yung gumastos sa amin, so sabi ko para pala sa amin talaga ‘to” (Before we got here, our preparation was intense. We weren’t also sure because one of our teammates suffered a sprained ankle, so we had to replace her. That’s why our mindset is to win because of what we went through. We had no budget, and it was our coach who spent his money to get us here,) said Paton-og

“I have to do my best para ma-pay back namin yung mga tao behind this success, yung reason na nakapunta kami dito” (I have to do my best and give back to all the people behind this success, the reason why we’re here,)” she added.

Below are the photos during the event:

Catch the next batch of teams who will compete against Team EVSU and the other Cebu representatives at the National Finals of Red Bull Half Court during the Manila Qualifiers on May 27 at Buendia Food by The Court in Makati City.

For more information and updates regarding Red Bull Half Court, visit the official Red Bull website and the following social media pages (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok)