Banilad Year Ender 2023

The tables were set and the timers glowed across the floor of the Banilad Town Centre as solvers gathered for the final fixture of the calendar year. Competitors took their seats amid stacks of puzzles and inspection covers, preparing for a full day of rapid turns and critical inspections. The atmosphere inside the venue captured the focused intensity typical of a high-stakes Rubik's Cube gathering, bringing together 44 participants for an action-packed close to the competitive season.

Staged in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines on December 30, Banilad Year Ender 2023 provided a rapid-fire conclusion to the 2023 speedcubing calendar. The single-day WCA competition featured 7 events spread across 11 rounds, drawing contenders from across the region to test their form. High-speed solving served as the centerpiece of the program, with the classic 3x3x3 Cube and the explosive 2x2x2 Cube rounds commanding major attention on the main stage.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube contest, Leo Borromeo delivered a commanding performance to secure the top step of the podium. Navigating three rounds alongside 42 other entrants, Borromeo locked in the title with a tournament-winning average of 6.03 seconds, punctuated by a blistering best single solve of 4.36 seconds. Jose Polorhenzo Aquino finished in second place with an average of 8.51 seconds, while Kirby Jay Caragan took third place with a mark of 9.33 seconds in the final 3x3 results.

The 2x2x2 Cube event brought pure sprint pacing to the tables, running through two rounds among 32 competitors. Jose Polorhenzo Aquino emerged victorious in a razor-thin final, capturing the gold medal with a winning average of 3.11 seconds and a top single of 2.33 seconds. Kristian Gil Caragan pushed the pace right to the edge, claiming second place just three hundredths behind at 3.14 seconds, while Chrisgel G. Tubianosa completed the podium in third with an average of 3.35 seconds.

Beyond the podium battles, the floor saw major breakthroughs from solvers making significant strides in their official journeys. Anthony Pio Lim Vega entered 3 events, locking in a personal best of 5.36 seconds on 2x2x2 to outpace his previous best by 66.9 percent, while logging his first official attempts in Pyraminx with 14.99 and 3x3x3 with 36.44. Ayle Jan C. Abelo achieved 18th in 4x4x4 Cube, setting a 3x3x3 personal best of 12.52 seconds for a 20.9 percent improvement alongside first attempts in One-Handed at 29.19 and 4x4x4 at 1:35.28. Jason Miguel Fernandez Tudtud secured 7th in 2x2x2, recorded his first tries in Pyraminx at 9.39 and One-Handed at 27.51, and cut 14.9 percent from his 3x3x3 personal best to hit 11.43. Xyril Angelo V. Ocampo posted a 3.50 personal best in 2x2x2, which was 32.3 percent faster than before, took on 4x4x4 for the first time with 2:22.58, and marked an 11.83 personal best in 3x3x3.

The momentum of personal progress continued across multiple brackets. Uriel Laurence Alfar entered 3 events, recording a first 2x2x2 attempt of 4.23 seconds, an 18th place finish in Pyraminx, and substantial personal best improvements of 28.7 percent in Pyraminx at 12.37 and 28.2 percent in 3x3x3 at 23.38. James Vladimir C. Nara reached 9th in Skewb while dropping time across the board, trimming his 3x3x3 best by 52.6 percent to 14.96, his Skewb best by 35.2 percent to 8.70, and his Pyraminx best by 30.8 percent to 8.95. Harry Jacalan Delantes registered a 3.61 in 2x2x2 to improve by 46.1 percent, accompanied by a 15.5 percent drop to 26.00 in One-Handed and an 11.28 personal best in Pyraminx. Larence Dayll C. Conde completed a busy schedule across 3 events, placing 13th in Pyraminx while making debut attempts of 5.15 seconds in 2x2x2 and 11.93 seconds in Pyraminx.

The larger puzzles and specialized disciplines brought additional trophies for the weekend frontrunners. Leo Borromeo added two more titles to his tally, winning the 4x4x4 Cube final with an average of 26.81 seconds ahead of Jose Polorhenzo Aquino at 31.62 and Kirby Jay Caragan at 39.21. Borromeo also swept the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, averaging 12.35 seconds to finish ahead of Aquino at 14.27 and Carlos Joseph Ong at 16.33, demonstrating remarkable dexterity on the one-handed tables.

Side events rounded out the schedule with competitive showdowns on every table. Jose Polorhenzo Aquino earned another victory in Pyraminx, posting an average of 3.14 seconds to lead Brian Acuña at 6.36 and Kirby Jay Caragan at 6.62. In Skewb, Jasper Lee Marbella secured the gold medal with a 4.74 average, edging out Kirby Jay Caragan at 4.76 and Brian Acuña at 5.30. In Clock, Kristian Gil Caragan took top honors with a 6.96 average, followed by Kirby Jay Caragan at 9.85 and Kyle Capiral at 10.20.

All 21 podium places across the 7 events went to competitors representing the Philippines, highlighting the depth of talent present at the tables. The single-day cubing competition closed out the local calendar with sharp times, personal milestones, and fierce head-to-head racing across every format. As the speed cubing circuit wraps up another competitive stretch, the results at Banilad Year Ender 2023 offer a fitting conclusion to the year.

Umapaw ang sigla sa Banilad Town Centre noong December 30, 2023 para sa huling labanan ng taon. Sa bawat sulok ng bulwagan, maririnig ang tuluy-tuloy na lagitik ng mga umiikot na cube habang abala ang apatnapu't apat na kalahok sa paghahanda ng kanilang mga piyesa. Sa torneo ng speedcubing na ito, naging malinaw na ang tunay na nagdidikta ng tagumpay ay hindi lamang ang mabilisang single kundi ang matatag at balanseng average sa bawat round.

Nangibabaw ang pambihirang gilas ni Leo Borromeo sa prestihiyosong 3x3x3 Cube sa Banilad Year Ender 2023. Sa pagharap sa apatnapu't tatlong katunggali sa tatlong rounds, ipinamalas niya ang matinding konsistensya upang maiuwi ang unang puwesto bitbit ang winning average na 6.03 kasama ang pinakamabilis na single na 4.36. Sumunod sa podium sina Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na may average na 8.51 para sa pilak at Kirby Jay Caragan na nagtala ng 9.33 para sa tanso.

Hindi rito nagtapos ang dominasyon ni Borromeo dahil nasungkit din niya ang kampeonato sa 4x4x4 Cube kung saan naglista siya ng 26.81 winning average at 23.03 best single laban sa dalawampu't dalawang kalahok. Pumangalawa muli si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino sa average na 31.62 habang tersero naman si Kirby Jay Caragan sa 39.21. Dagdag pa rito, kinuha rin ni Borromeo ang panalo sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa average na 12.35 at single na 10.16 laban sa dalawampung katunggali, habang pumangalawa si Aquino sa 14.27 at pumangatlo si Carlos Joseph Ong sa 16.33.

Nagpakitang-gilas din nang husto si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino sa iba pang mga kategorya. Sa 2x2x2 Cube, pinatunayan niya ang kanyang bilis nang itala ang 3.11 winning average mula sa tatlumpu't dalawang kalahok sa dalawang rounds, na sinundan nina Kristian Gil Caragan na may 3.14 at Chrisgel G. Tubianosa na may 3.35. Pinangunahan din ni Aquino ang Pyraminx sa pamamagitan ng 3.14 average laban sa dalawampu't dalawang katunggali, kung saan pumangalawa si Brian Acuña sa 6.36 at pumangatlo si Kirby Jay Caragan sa 6.62.

Sa iba pang larangan ng cubing competition sa Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, nagwagi si Kristian Gil Caragan sa Clock bitbit ang 6.96 average at 6.16 single laban sa walong manlalaro, habang pumangalawa si Kirby Jay Caragan sa 9.85 at pumangatlo si Kyle Capiral sa 10.20. Samantala, napunta kay Jasper Lee Marbella ang tagumpay sa Skewb sa tulong ng 4.74 winning average mula sa sampung kalahok, matapos talunin sa dikitang laban si Kirby Jay Caragan na nagtala ng 4.76 at Brian Acuña na nagtala ng 5.30.

Sa likod ng mga numero sa podium, namukod-tangi ang determinasyon ng mga sumasabak na manlalaro upang basagin ang kanilang mga personal na rekord. Malaking pag-unlad ang ipinamalas ni Seth Nikolai R. Sostinto sa tatlong sinubukang kategorya matapos ibaba ang kanyang 2x2x2 Cube personal best sa 7.50 na tatlumpu't siyam punto isang porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dati, at ang 3x3x3 Cube sa 39.12. Lumipad din ang oras ni Johann Archieval G. Tacatani sa limang kategorya sa tulong ng 50.49 sa 4x4x4 Cube na dalawampu't siyam punto limang porsyentong mas mabilis, 10.97 sa Pyraminx, at 2.91 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Bumasag din ng personal best si Railee Diocampo sa Skewb na 7.41 na labinwalong punto siyam na porsyentong mas matulin, 16.59 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa Clock sa bilis na 12.86. Nagtala naman si Nathaleo Pablo V. Olgina ng unang opisyal na subok sa 4x4x4 Cube sa oras na 1:15.33, kasabay ng personal best sa 2x2x2 Cube na 4.68 at 13.48 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Naging espesyal din ang araw para sa mga bagong salta na sumabak sa kanilang unang WCA competition. Unang beses sumalang sa opisyal na entablado si Xymar T. Cadapan sa apat na kategorya kung saan nagtala siya ng 12.95 sa Pyraminx, 33.04 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 10.85 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Gayundin si Mac Hildyard A. Quibido na lumahok sa tatlong larangan at nagtala ng 23.56 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 10.09 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 4:04.43 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Ipinamalas din ni Kim Justine Otom ang kanyang galing sa unang sabak sa 3x3x3 Cube sa oras na 10.84, 29.12 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 18.56 sa Pyraminx, habang si Raio Habana ay nagtala ng 5.67 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 19.27 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 1:32.44 sa 4x4x4 Cube.

Sa kabuuan ng labing-isang rounds sa pitong events ng Rubik's Cube at iba pang puzzle, naipakita ng Banilad Year Ender 2023 ang mataas na antas ng husay at tiyaga ng mga kalahok. Ang tagumpay ng bawat manlalaro sa pagtatapos ng taon ay patunay na ang matatag na pagpihit at tapat na pagtutok sa bawat solve ang siyang tunay na daan patungo sa tagumpay.