CaMaNaVa Year-End Blast 2024

Forty competitors converged on Robinsons Town Mall Malabon to close out the year with intense speedcubing action. The CaMaNaVa Year-End Blast 2024 delivered 11 rounds across seven distinct disciplines on December 29, 2024. Staged in the City of Malabon, Philippines, this bustling WCA competition highlighted not only elite finishes but also tremendous personal growth across the field. From experienced champions to rising solvers hunting down substantial time cuts, the single-day gathering provided an unforgettable display of progress on every table.

The traditional 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube drew a field of 38 contenders, concluding in a high-stakes final round. Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes from the Philippines took top honours in the main event with a winning average of 7.78 seconds alongside a best single of 6.78. In the 3x3 results, Mharr Justhinne Ampong claimed second place with an 8.45 average, while Andres Taipe of Peru secured third place averaging 9.39. In the preliminary stage, Ampong had posted an 8.33 single and 8.96 average, while Magallanes delivered a 6.81 single and 9.00 average.

Magallanes added a second gold medal to his tally during the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, which featured 28 competitors. Solving with a single hand demands exceptional finger dexterity and control, and Magallanes set the benchmark with an average of 14.61 seconds and a 9.66 single. Ampong followed closely in the runner-up position with a 15.48 average, while Taipe earned another podium finish for Peru, locking in third place with an 18.01 average in the single-round showdown.

The CaMaNaVa Year-End Blast 2024 also highlighted exceptional speed in the shorter puzzle disciplines. In Skewb, which saw 26 competitors battle across three separate rounds, Jhazmine Lacsamana captured victory with a 4.22 winning average and a 3.71 single. Ampong took second with 4.34, and Yuji Yoshida finished third with 5.13. The Pyraminx event saw 24 entrants, where Dylan Gesmundo of the USA secured the title with a 5.15 average, finishing ahead of Brian Hill T. Ayapana at 5.27 and Taipe at 5.56.

Technical mastery was fully evident in Clock, Megaminx, and Square-1. Zoei Principe won the 21-competitor Clock event with a sharp 3.98 average, leading Zian Principe at 4.64 and Kyle Capiral at 5.80. The 12-sided Megaminx was claimed by Nicole Jnus Macalalad in 38.82 seconds, well ahead of Yoshida at 1:04.41 and Earl Bien D. Celestino at 1:07.17. Yoshida bounced back in Square-1, conquering the changing shapes of the puzzle to win in 12.48 seconds over Nicole Santos at 14.08 and Rennel Marcos at 19.60.

Beyond the top podium steps, the heart of the cubing competition rested in monumental leaps of personal progress. Luis Gabriel Cueto Pahati entered three events and registered huge improvements, slicing his Skewb personal best down to 8.98 seconds, which was 56.2 percent faster than his prior 20.52 mark, and reducing his One-Handed best to 1:09.12, an improvement of 35.6 percent. Kris Clarence B. Dizon tackled three events, finishing 10th in Clock with a new personal best of 9.77 that was 55.1 percent faster than before, while lowering their 3x3x3 Cube best to 19.19, a 34.5 percent drop.

Other competitors similarly redefined their benchmarks throughout the day. Jace Legaspi entered the 3x3x3 Cube and achieved a personal best of 24.45 seconds, improving by 48.6 percent compared to their previous 47.57. Arvi Christian Magcalas Alinea placed 13th in One-Handed with a first attempt of 25.15 and improved their 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 45 percent down to 16.15. Liam B. Rashid took on four events, making a first One-Handed attempt of 1:03.59 and improving their Pyraminx best by 31.5 percent to 9.69. Ezekiel L. Inciso tackled five events, finishing 10th in Skewb with a first attempt of 5.12 and cutting their Pyraminx best by 23.3 percent to 5.03. Alexis John S. Abdulsabur entered six events, finishing 6th in Square-1 with a first attempt of 26.30, while logging first attempts in Skewb at 5.39 and Clock at 10.84.

By the close of the day, host country Philippines earned 17 podium places, Peru claimed three, and the USA earned one. Every round celebrated the dedication that defines speed cubing, showcasing rapid evolution among veterans and rising competitors alike. The CaMaNaVa Year-End Blast 2024 concluded the season in the City of Malabon, Philippines with remarkable milestone achievements, leaving the local community ready to carry this momentum into the next year of competition.

Umapaw ang katahimikan at matinding pagtutok sa Robinsons Town Mall Malabon habang nakalapag ang mga puzzle sa ibabaw ng mga opisyal na solving mat. Bago pa man bumilis ang mga kamay at umikot ang mga piyesa sa paligsahan, naging sentro ng bawat paglapit sa lamesa ang malalim na pagsasaulo at lubos na disiplina ng isip. Ang mga ganitong pagsubok sa bilis at memorya ay nangangailangan ng buong atensyon kung saan ang bawat galaw ay pinaplano bago pa man simulan ang pagresolba sa bawat porma ng Rubiks Cube.

Naging masigla ang pagtatapos ng taon sa City of Malabon, Philippines noong December 29, 2024 sa pagdaraos ng CaMaNaVa Year-End Blast 2024. Apatnapung kalahok ang nagtipon upang magtagisan sa pitong magkakaibang kategorya na sumaklaw sa labing-isang rounds ng masinsinang labanan. Ang naturang cubing competition ay nagbigay-daan upang maipamalas ang talento ng mga lokal at dayuhang speedcuber sa ilalim ng mga pamantayan ng World Cube Association sa pagtatapos ng season.

Bumida nang husto si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes matapos niyang angkinin ang unang puwesto sa dalawang pangunahing kategorya. Sa 3x3x3 Cube na nilahukan ng tatlumpu't walong manlalaro sa dalawang rounds, nagrehistro si Magallanes ng winning average na 7.78 at pinakamabilis na single na 6.78. Sinundan siya ni Mharr Justhinne Ampong ng Pilipinas na may 8.45 average at Andres Taipe ng Peru na nagtala ng 9.39 average sa podium.

Hindi rin nagpaawat si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes sa 3x3x3 One-Handed kung saan pinatunayan niya ang kanyang kontrol sa iisang kamay. Nakamit niya ang gintong puwesto tangan ang winning average na 14.61 at best single na 9.66 laban sa dalawampu't walong kalahok. Pumangalawa muli si Mharr Justhinne Ampong na nagtala ng 15.48 average habang pumangatlo si Andres Taipe na may 18.01 average para sa isa pang podium finish.

Sa iba pang larangan ng speedcubing, naging kahanga-hanga ang ipinakitang bilis ng mga kalahok. Sa Megaminx, nanguna si Nicole Jnus Macalalad na may winning average na 38.82 at single na 34.13 laban sa labintatlong katunggali, habang sumunod sina Yuji Yoshida na may 1:04.41 at Earl Bien D. Celestino na may 1:07.17. Sa Square-1, si Yuji Yoshida ang nagwagi tangan ang 12.48 average laban kina Nicole Santos na may 14.08 at Rennel Marcos na may 19.60. Sa Clock, nagwagi si Zoei Principe sa bilis na 3.98 average, kasunod sina Zian Principe na may 4.64 at Kyle Capiral na may 5.80.

Maraming magagandang kwento ng pagsisikap ang nasaksihan sa likod ng mga numero at opisyal na talaan. Ipinamalas ni Bryden Liam Manlapaz Abelita ang 24.8 porsyentong pagbilis sa 3x3x3 Cube nang maitala ang personal best na 13.79 mula sa dating 18.33, bukod pa sa 12.26 sa Clock kung saan siya nagtapos sa ika-21 na puwesto. Nagpakitang-gilas din si Francine Rovie F. Retanan sa pagpapababa ng kanyang oras sa Pyraminx sa 6.86 na 24.3 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa dating 9.06, sabay tala ng 28.89 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed at ika-8 puwesto sa Clock. Si Mark Anthony Dellosa naman ay humugot ng 10 porsyentong bawas sa Pyraminx gamit ang 3.60 personal best tungo sa ika-8 puwesto, bukod sa kanyang unang pagsubok sa Clock na nagtala ng 12.41.

Sumabak din sa anim na kategorya si Rachel Tatad na nagtala ng unang subok sa Clock sa oras na 17.35, nagtamo ng 13.08 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube na 6.7 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 14.02, at pumwesto sa ika-11 sa Square-1. Sinubukan naman ni John Hendrix M. Francisco ang 3x3x3 One-Handed sa unang pagkakataon na may markang 34.81 upang makuha ang ika-21 na puwesto sa tatlong sinalihang laro. Samantala, minarkahan nina Prince Franco H. Ramos at Edwin Santos ang kanilang unang WCA competition sa 3x3x3 Cube, kung saan nagrehistro si Ramos ng 18.49 habang si Santos ay nagtala ng 2:06.39 sa kanilang unang opisyal na pagtatangka.

Naging mahigpit din ang tunggalian sa Pyraminx at Skewb upang kumpletuhin ang mga kampeon ng paligsahan. Sa Pyraminx, nanaig si Dylan Gesmundo mula sa USA na may 5.15 winning average at 3.67 best single laban sa dalawampu't apat na kalahok, kasunod sina Brian Hill T. Ayapana na may 5.27 at Andres Taipe na may 5.56. Sa Skewb na umabot sa tatlong rounds, nagwagi si Jhazmine Lacsamana na may 4.22 average at 3.71 single, habang pumangalawa si Mharr Justhinne Ampong sa 4.34 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa 5.13.

Ang tagumpay ng CaMaNaVa Year-End Blast 2024 sa City of Malabon ay nagpapakita ng patuloy na pag-unlad at sigla ng komunidad bago sumapit ang bagong taon. Mula sa labimpitong podium finishes ng Pilipinas, tatlo mula sa Peru, at isa mula sa USA, napatunayan ng mga manlalaro ang bunga ng kanilang pagsasanay sa bawat puzzle. Nagsilbing magandang pagtatapos ang torneo para sa taong 2024 habang naghahanda ang lahat para sa mga susunod pang hamon sa entablado.