Ayat-Ti Cubing Elyu Fest 2024

Thirty-two competitors converged on August 24, 2024, at San Fernando South Central Integrated School for a packed day of twisting puzzles. Across 15 rounds and eight separate disciplines, reaching a final round demanded consistent precision from the opening turn. The single-day WCA competition brought deep fields and tight margins across the board, demonstrating the rising quality of competitive solving across Northern Luzon as contenders pushed every turn for an edge.

Crimson Arradaza emerged as the standout performer of Ayat-Ti Cubing Elyu Fest 2024, claiming three individual titles across a testing schedule. In the traditional 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, Arradaza took the top step of the podium through three gruelling rounds, putting together a winning average of 7.22 seconds alongside the day's best single of 5.79 seconds. Xavier De Vera earned second place with an 8.16 average, while Gian Carlo C. Catambay secured third with 9.69, rounding out the headline 3x3 results in a tightly contested final.

Arradaza repeated that gold-medal standard across two other short-format puzzles. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Arradaza posted a 3.35 winning average to finish ahead of Nicole Jnus Macalalad at 4.00 and Victor Grant Velasco at 4.20. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Arradaza delivered an 8.64 average and a blazing 6.49 single to capture first place over Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula with 14.78 and Louie Jay Quibote with 18.99, completing an impressive triple victory on the day.

The bigger puzzles saw Louie Jay Quibote demonstrate command across two demanding events. Quibote clinched the 4x4x4 Cube crown with a 35.81 winning average and a 32.03 single, holding off Catambay at 36.49 and De Vera at 38.83 in a field of 20 entrants. Quibote then doubled his tally in the 5x5x5 Cube, producing a winning mark of 1:02.16 with a 56.25 single, finishing clear of Catambay at 1:05.45 and Clifford Orcales at 1:09.16.

Beyond the standard cubes, specialty events provided thrilling battles. Marc Arvinson J. Padilla won Clock with a 7.83 average, edging Angelo Siador at 8.50 and Velasco at 10.46. In Skewb, Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez topped the single-round contest with a 4.22 average, besting Velasco at 6.49 and Padilla at 7.10. Meanwhile, Megaminx belonged to Nicole Jnus Macalalad, who took first place in 42.07 seconds ahead of Sapitula at 51.28 and Quibote at 1:01.73.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Jamel J. Galang entered five events and recorded huge gains, trimming a Clock personal best to 8.53 seconds, which was 35 percent faster than before, while improving in 4x4x4 to 1:23.29, a 23.3 percent cut, alongside a first Skewb attempt of 7.91. Vann Lexter P. Valdez made a substantial leap in the 3x3x3 Cube, lowering a personal best to 29.35 seconds, 30.8 percent faster. Jethro Beronilla cut 21.2 percent off a 2x2x2 best to 5.81 and registered an 18.90 in 3x3x3, 10.4 percent faster. Cyrus Janiel Bernardez posted a 3.18 in a first 2x2x2 Cube attempt on the way to sixth place and shaved 20.8 percent from a 3x3x3 mark down to 8.12.

Other solvers expanded their repertoires and set notable personal benchmarks throughout the weekend. Zareb A. Cruz tackled six events, achieving fourth in Skewb, making a first Clock attempt in 11.24 seconds, and cutting 4x4x4 time by 16.6 percent to 58.04 alongside a 13.7 percent one-handed improvement to 22.86. Vincent Noel Dagdag logged a 9.92 in a first 3x3x3 attempt, placed ninth in 4x4x4, and improved a 5x5x5 best by 15.6 percent to 1:24.65. Odrei John Patajo took on six disciplines, earning sixth in Clock, while debuting in 3x3x3 One-Handed with 41.55, Skewb with 28.89, and 4x4x4 Cube with 1:08.13. Kristoeph Lacsamana completed a first one-handed attempt in 46.91 and lowered a 4x4x4 best by 8.4 percent to 2:10.45.

The gathering in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, highlighted how speedcubing continues to flourish locally through organized grassroots fixtures. With 24 total podium placements distributed among Philippine solvers, Ayat-Ti Cubing Elyu Fest 2024 served as an energetic showcase of regional talent, setting a solid foundation for every participant heading into the next speed cubing season.

Walong magkakaibang kaganapan ang sumubok sa galing at liksi ng tatlumpu't dalawang kalahok sa San Fernando South Central Integrated School noong ika-dalawampu't apat ng Agosto. Sa kabuuang labinlimang round ng bakbakan sa San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, ipinamalas ng bawat manlalaro ang kanilang husay hindi lamang sa karaniwang Rubik's Cube kundi maging sa mga kakaibang hugis tulad ng Megaminx, Skewb, at Clock. Ang malawak na uri ng mga laro ang nagbigay ng natatanging sigla sa buong araw ng paligsahan ngayong 2024.

Nanguna sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube si Crimson Arradaza matapos magtala ng winning average na 7.22 at pinakamabilis na single na 5.79 sa tatlong round laban sa tatlumpu't dalawang kalahok. Pumangalawa sa naturang laban si Xavier De Vera na nagrehistro ng 8.16, habang pumangatlo naman si Gian Carlo C. Catambay na may average na 9.69. Ipinakita ng nangungunang tatlo ang kanilang katatagan sa pinakaprestihiyosong dibisyon ng buong torneo.

Hindi nagpaawat si Crimson Arradaza nang sungkitin din niya ang tagumpay sa 2x2x2 Cube taglay ang winning average na 3.35, kung saan pumangalawa si Nicole Jnus Macalalad sa bilis na 4.00 at pumangatlo si Victor Grant Velasco na may 4.20. Dinagdagan pa ito ni Crimson Arradaza ng panalo sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa pamamagitan ng 8.64 winning average at 6.49 single. Sa naturang isang-kamay na kategorya, pumangalawa si Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula na may 14.78 at pumangatlo si Louie Jay Quibote na may 18.99 sa pagtatapos ng dalawang round.

Sa mas malalaking kategorya, naghari si Louie Jay Quibote na nagwagi sa 4x4x4 Cube tangan ang winning average na 35.81 at pinakamagandang single na 32.03 laban sa dalawampung katunggali. Sumunod sa kanya sa 4x4x4 Cube podium sina Gian Carlo C. Catambay na may 36.49 at Xavier De Vera na nagtala ng 38.83. Dinala rin ni Louie Jay Quibote ang parehong bilis sa 5x5x5 Cube upang angkinin ang unang pwesto sa winning average na 1:02.16 laban kina Gian Carlo C. Catambay na may 1:05.45 at Clifford Orcales na nagrehistro ng 1:09.16.

Umani rin ng tagumpay ang iba pang mga kakaibang kaganapan sa Ayat-Ti Cubing Elyu Fest 2024 tulad ng Megaminx kung saan nagwagi si Nicole Jnus Macalalad sa winning average na 42.07 at single na 38.46. Pumangalawa roon si Crysky Ralph R. Sapitula sa bilis na 51.28 at pumangatlo si Louie Jay Quibote na may 1:01.73. Sa Skewb naman, nangibabaw si Dylan Arteims N. Fernandez taglay ang winning average na 4.22 laban kina Victor Grant Velasco na may 6.49 at Marc Arvinson J. Padilla na nagtala ng 7.10. Nagwagi rin si Marc Arvinson J. Padilla sa Clock gamit ang 7.83 winning average kontra kina Angelo Siador na may 8.50 at Victor Grant Velasco na may 10.46.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa entablado, nagpakita ng kahanga-hangang pagsisikap ang iba pang kalahok sa speedcubing na nagtala ng mga bagong personal na tala. Naibaba ni Jomar Labsan ang kanyang personal best sa 2x2x2 Cube tungo sa 4.70 mula sa dating 6.19, isang pagbilis na 24.1 porsyento, habang sumabak sa tatlong kategorya at nagtala ng ika-dalawampung pwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube. Pinaganda rin ni Joaquin Earth Flores Castillo ang kanyang 2x2x2 Cube record nang maabot ang 14.75 mula 17.10, na 13.7 porsyentong mas mabilis. Nagtala naman si Theseus N. Abaclod ng personal best sa 4x4x4 Cube na 1:08.31 mula 1:16.01 at Clock na 9.96 mula 10.53, habang nakamit ang ika-apat na pwesto sa Clock sa apat na sinalihang laban. Sa kanyang unang subok sa Clock, nagtala agad si Jan Jeffrie G. Salloman ng 8.13 upang makuha ang ika-limang pwesto sa naturang laro.

Naging makabuluhan din ang araw para sa mga bagong manlalaro sa kanilang unang opisyal na WCA competition. Sumabak si Charlson B. Lacasandile sa tatlong kaganapan kung saan nagtala siya ng unang subok na 13.21 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 23.81 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 1:20.00 sa 4x4x4 Cube na nagdala sa kanya sa ika-labimpitong pwesto. Sa kanyang unang laban, nagrehistro si Freinan Bagoyo ng 9.52 sa 3x3x3 Cube tungo sa ika-walong pwesto at 17.27 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed. Nagtala naman si Adam Ulysses V. Ocampo ng 22.30 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 7.92 sa 2x2x2 Cube, habang si Mikhael Kristoff T. Dance ay nagsumite ng 8.78 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 22.65 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanilang dalawang nilahukang kategorya.

Ang tagumpay ng buong cubing competition sa Hilagang Luzon ay nagpatunay sa lumalawak na galing ng mga lokal na manlalaro sa iba't ibang anyo ng mekanikal na puzzle. Lahat ng dalawampu't apat na pwesto sa podium ay nasungkit ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas sa kabuuang walong opisyal na larangan. Naging patunay ang Ayat-Ti Cubing Elyu Fest 2024 na ang bawat pag-ikot ng mga kamay ay nagdadala ng mas mataas na antas ng dedikasyon at kasanayan para sa susunod na yugto ng palakasan.