Cainta Cubing Mania 2024

The Pabton II Covered Court was alive with energy on February 4, 2024, as competitors and families gathered for a full day of puzzle-solving action in Cainta City, Rizal, Philippines. Across the venue, the rhythmic snapping of turning faces and the sound of hands striking timer pads created an intense atmosphere for the 72 competitors on site. For many stepping up to official timers for the first time, the tournament environment delivered an unforgettable rush that only an official cubing competition can bring.

The single-day WCA competition featured 7 events and 11 rounds, providing a dense schedule of challenges across puzzles of various sizes and shapes. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong delivered a commanding performance across the board, capturing four event titles and securing a podium spot in nearly every discipline he entered. His day was anchored by a swift showing in the classic Rubik's Cube, where he topped the standings through three rounds of speedcubing excellence.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube event, Brenton Angelo Lo Wong earned the victory with a winning average of 6.66 seconds, posting the day's best single solve of 5.08 seconds among 72 entrants. Carl Ashley Cortes secured the runner-up spot with an average of 7.63 seconds, while Christian Naguio finished third with an 8.52 average. These 3x3 results capped three rounds of tight competition on the main stage.

Beyond the main event, the podiums reflected high-level speed cubing skill across multiple formats. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong took top honours in 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.10 winning average and a 1.32 single, finishing ahead of Christian Naguio at 2.66 and Psyron Eubert Catral at 3.07. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Wong took first with an average of 28.47, followed by Catral with 34.49 and Naguio with 35.14. Wong also captured the 5x5x5 Cube title with a 54.44 average, ahead of Naguio at 56.55 and Dale Palmares at 59.43.

Sid Elijah E. Ortega produced one of the sharpest breakthroughs of the event, recording a personal best single of 2.37 seconds in the 2x2x2 Cube to run 67.6 percent faster than their previous mark and secure 5th place, alongside a 3x3x3 Cube best of 13.77 seconds. Maurielle Faith C. Candelaria took on 4 events, trimming 59.4 percent off their 2x2x2 Cube mark with a 4.17 personal best while logging a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 11.37 seconds and a first Megaminx result of 2:04.46. Markus Wong achieved a 43.7 percent improvement in 4x4x4 Cube with a 57.07 personal best, alongside first attempts in Megaminx at 1:58.17 and 5x5x5 Cube at 1:40.68. Kurt Zandro V. Pelayo dropped their 3x3x3 Cube mark by 42.9 percent to 27.95 while trying Pyraminx for the first time in 14.46 seconds and 2x2x2 Cube in 10.04 seconds.

Allian Nico N. De Leon improved their 2x2x2 Cube best by 31.9 percent to 3.93 seconds across 4 events, also recording first career attempts in Pyraminx at 10.70 seconds and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:20.56. Maverine Sanchez entered 6 events and claimed 7th in 2x2x2 Cube, alongside a first attempt at Megaminx in 2:27.19, a 25.2 percent improvement in Pyraminx to 3.98 seconds, and a 53.62 in 4x4x4 Cube. Jumuel Mathew B. Bucag tackled 5 events to take 12th in 2x2x2 Cube while posting first attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:25.24, 5x5x5 Cube at 2:44.85, and Megaminx at 3:12.26. John Angelo D. Bianzon took on all 7 events, finishing 12th in Square-1 with a first attempt of 19.58 seconds, alongside initial official marks in Megaminx at 1:17.35 and 5x5x5 Cube at 1:45.75.

Side events offered thrilling action as Psyron Eubert Catral earned two titles of his own. In Square-1, Catral won across two rounds with an 11.21 winning average, finishing ahead of Brenton Angelo Lo Wong at 12.35 and Francis Yuel B. Merced at 13.27. Catral also took gold in Pyraminx with an average of 2.86 seconds, edging Justin Andrew Dee at 3.05 and Isaiah Benedict S. Feria at 3.99 among 43 competitors.

The Megaminx event saw Nicole Jnus Macalalad take the victory with an impressive average of 47.59 seconds and a tournament-best single of 38.43 seconds among 26 competitors. Ayooluwa Samuel Dada of Nigeria claimed second place with a 50.46 average, while Brenton Angelo Lo Wong rounded out the podium in 53.87 seconds. The result gave international representation to the medal table alongside 20 podium places earned by competitors representing the host nation.

The action at Cainta Cubing Mania 2024 wrapped up after 11 total rounds of determined solving. From experienced podium contenders claiming silverware to newcomers navigating their first official attempts and celebrating personal bests, the tournament highlighted the depth of enthusiasm in the local cubing scene as competitors look forward to their next official tests on the calendar.

Umapaw ang sigla at bilis sa loob ng Pabton II Covered Court sa Cainta City, Rizal, Philippines noong February 4, 2024. Sa ilalim ng malawak na bubong ng covered court, nagtipon ang 72 kalahok upang ipamalas ang kanilang galing sa ibat ibang uri ng puzzle. Ang Cainta Cubing Mania 2024 ay naging entablado ng matinding bilis ng kamay at talas ng isip sa bawat solving station, kung saan ang bawat pag-ikot ng piyesa ay sumasalamin sa dedikasyon ng komunidad ng speedcubing sa bansa.

Bumida nang husto si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa buong torneo matapos magwagi sa apat na magkakahiwalay na kategorya. Sa prestihiyosong 3x3x3 Cube, na tradisyonal na Rubik's Cube na sinalihan ng 72 kalahok sa tatlong rounds, nanguna si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng winning average na 6.66 at pinakamabilis na best single na 5.08. Pumangalawa si Carl Ashley Cortes na may average na 7.63 habang pumangatlo si Christian Naguio na may 8.52.

Ipinagpatuloy ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kanyang dominasyon sa mas maliliit at mas malalaking cubes sa naturang cubing competition. Sa 2x2x2 Cube, nasungkit niya ang unang puwesto na may winning average na 2.10 at best single na 1.32 laban sa 55 katunggali, kung saan pumangalawa si Christian Naguio sa 2.66 at pumangatlo si Psyron Eubert Catral sa 3.07. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, nanguna muli si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 28.47 winning average, kasunod sina Psyron Eubert Catral sa 34.49 at Christian Naguio sa 35.14.

Hindi rin nagpaawat si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 5x5x5 Cube, kung saan naitala niya ang winning average na 54.44 sa dalawang rounds laban sa 30 kalahok. Kasama niya sa podium sina Christian Naguio na nakakuha ng 56.55 at Dale Palmares na nagrehistro ng 59.43. Samantala, sa Megaminx event na may 26 na kalahok, naghari si Nicole Jnus Macalalad na may 47.59 winning average at 38.43 best single, habang sumunod si Ayooluwa Samuel Dada mula Nigeria na may 50.46 at si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 53.87.

Nagpakitang-gilas din si Psyron Eubert Catral sa dalawang kapana-panabik na puzzle format sa Cainta Cubing Mania 2024. Sa Pyraminx, tinalo niya ang 43 competitors gamit ang 2.86 winning average at 2.20 best single, kung saan pumangalawa si Justin Andrew Dee sa 3.05 at pumangatlo si Isaiah Benedict S. Feria sa 3.99. Nagwagi rin si Psyron Eubert Catral sa Square-1 matapos magtala ng 11.21 average at 8.60 single, habang pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 12.35 at pumangatlo si Francis Yuel B. Merced sa 13.27.

Sa likod ng mga labanan sa podium, marami sa mga kalahok ang nagtala ng pambihirang mga tagumpay sa Cainta Cubing Mania 2024. Pinangunahan ito ni Pam Jarina na sumabak sa 6 na events at nagtala ng 8.63 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 32.7 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dati, 42.71 sa 4x4x4 Cube na 8.6 porsyentong bilis, at unang pagsubok sa Square-1 sa oras na 40.95. Ipinamalas din ni Kiedis Frusciante D. Fernandez ang malaking pagsulong sa 3x3x3 Cube sa 17.98 na 34.5 porsyentong mas mabilis, kasabay ng unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 6.20. Si Joshua Ilao ay humataw sa 2x2x2 Cube sa 4.29 na 22.6 porsyentong bilis, 14.39 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at unang subok sa Pyraminx sa 6.96. Si Gabriel Adrian Cruz naman ay umabante sa 5x5x5 Cube sa 58.96 na 23.9 porsyentong bilis, 8.45 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at unang subok sa Megaminx sa 1:37.24.

Naging makabuluhan din ang araw para sa mga sumalang sa kanilang pinakaunang opisyal na WCA competition. Si Donn Sebastian B. Rodriguez ay sumabak sa 3 events at nagtala ng 18.08 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 5.76 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 2:08.25 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Si Mau Lean Mhel Malonzo ay nagtala ng 15.63 sa Pyraminx, 16.14 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 5.26 sa 2x2x2 Cube sa kanyang 3 events. Sumabak din sa 3 events si Reese Candelaria na nagrehistro ng 15.65 sa Pyraminx, 8.42 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 29.73 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, si Ejay Matthew S. Ong ay nagtala ng 9.75 sa Pyraminx para sa ika-25 puwesto, 31.26 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 6.88 sa 2x2x2 Cube sa kanyang mga unang opisyal na solve.

Sa kabuuan ng 11 rounds sa 7 kategorya, nagwakas ang Cainta Cubing Mania 2024 nang may 20 podium finishes para sa Pilipinas at isa para sa Nigeria. Ang Pabton II Covered Court ay naging saksi sa mataas na antas ng husay ng mga manlalaro sa taong 2024. Mula sa mga batikang kampeon hanggang sa mga baguhang sumubok sa unang pagkakataon, muling pinatunayan ng komunidad ang galing at sigasig sa bawat ikot ng puzzle.