Cebu Cube Cup 2023

Leo Borromeo delivered a masterclass in swift execution at Robinsons Cybergate Cebu, securing the premier title with a blazing 5.64 winning average on the traditional Rubik's Cube. The performance set the standard for an intense day of sprinting at Cebu Cube Cup 2023, where speed was on full display across every round. Borromeo also dropped a 5.00 best single in the final stage, finishing well clear of the 49-player field to claim gold in the marquee event of the weekend.

The 3x3 results confirmed Borromeo at the summit, where Lance Enzo Yap finished as runner-up with an average of 9.05, closely followed by Jose Polorhenzo Aquino taking third at 9.13. That podium settled an electrifying three rounds of speedcubing in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines on July 1, 2023. Yap, however, found his own crowning moment in the lightning-fast 2x2x2 Cube event, capturing first place with a crisp 3.05 average and a stunning 1.86 best single across two competitive rounds.

Yap was pushed to the wire in the 2x2 final by Kristian Gil Caragan, who took second place with a 3.17 average, while Aquino grabbed another medal by finishing third with 3.59. The 2x2 tournament drew 37 competitors and generated rapid-fire solves throughout the morning, establishing the rapid pace of the entire WCA competition. With tenths of a second separating the leaders, the event stood out as one of the tightest contests of the single-day gathering.

Beyond the core sprints, Borromeo extended his dominance into other puzzles, capturing two more victories to complete a remarkable triple crown. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Borromeo topped the 29-player roster with a 13.32 average and an 8.49 single, while Aquino claimed silver at 16.50 and Yap took bronze at 16.87. Moving up to the 4x4x4 Cube, Borromeo again set the standard, posting a winning average of 25.90 and a 23.27 single to edge out Aquino with 32.74 and Brian Acuña with 39.14.

Away from the top steps, several competitors delivered massive personal milestones that defined the heart of the tournament. Chris Andrew C. Pitogo tackled five events, achieving a personal best of 2.58 in 2x2x2 Cube that was 56 percent faster than his prior 5.87 mark, while also registering his first official attempts in Pyraminx at 9.52 and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:22.06. Johann Jr. Mecha took on four disciplines, slashing his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 45.6 percent with a new 19.10 best and completing maiden attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:41.05 and Pyraminx at 6.32. Renzo Luis B. Mondragon demolished his 3x3x3 Cube best with a 14.04 single, 71 percent faster than his previous 48.42, alongside a first try in One-Handed at 42.14. Terrence Sebastian completed four events, notching first attempts in Pyraminx at 13.68, 4x4x4 Cube at 1:35.58, and 2x2x2 Cube at 5.14.

The surge of individual progress continued across the venue. Audrianna Yashika Ang entered three events, debuting in One-Handed with 48.82 and trimming her personal bests to 3.95 on 2x2x2 Cube, a 38.9 percent gain, and 14.47 on 3x3x3 Cube. Railee Diocampo registered a first attempt at Skewb with 14.12 and One-Handed with 31.00 while improving in Pyraminx to 6.83, a 14.6 percent drop. Crieo Rhyle Jess Sabalones Cortes recorded a 48.8 percent cut on 2x2x2 Cube with a 3.33 best and lowered their One-Handed mark to 31.03. Alex Sam C. Cabildo made a first attempt in One-Handed at 26.68 and improved their bests to 3.86 on 2x2 and 11.36 on 3x3.

Aquino turned in an exceptionally versatile day across the roster of side disciplines. In Pyraminx, Aquino took top honours with a winning average of 3.48 and a 2.74 single, defeating Jasper Lee Marbella at 4.95 and Chrisgel G. Tubianosa at 6.55. Aquino repeated the winning formula in Skewb, taking first place with an average of 3.97, followed by Kirby Jay Caragan with 4.66 and Marbella with 5.05. Altogether, Aquino appeared on five different podiums across the program, showcasing extraordinary consistency in various formats.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline demanded immense focus and memorisation, where Kristian Gil Caragan claimed victory with a 1:16.69 average and a 1:07.00 single among seven entrants. Aquino secured second place with 1:17.42, and Joshua David Tan earned third with 2:41.50. Covering seven events and eleven rounds, Cebu Cube Cup 2023 offered a complete celebration of speed cubing excellence in the region, leaving the local scene energized for the season ahead at every cubing competition.

Pitong magkakaibang kategorya at labing-isang round ang sumubok sa galing ng 49 na kalahok sa Robinsons Cybergate Cebu noong Hulyo 1, 2023. Mula sa tradisyunal na 3x3x3 Cube hanggang sa mga kakaibang hugis tulad ng Pyraminx at Skewb, naging entablado ang Cebu Cube Cup 2023 para sa iba-ibang estilo ng paglutas. Ang buong paligsahan sa Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines ay nagbigay-diin sa lawak ng kasanayan ng bawat speedcuber na humawak ng sari-saring uri ng puzzle sa loob ng iisang araw ng maigting na labanan.

Bumida sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube event si Leo Borromeo matapos magtala ng winning average na 5.64 sa finals at pinakamabilis na single time na 5.00 sa kabuuang 49 na kalahok. Pumangalawa sa naturang kategorya si Lance Enzo Yap na may 9.05 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na nakapagtala ng 9.13 average. Ang bilis at katumpakan na ipinamalas sa tatlong rounds ng klasikong Rubik's Cube ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng paglalaro sa buong torneo.

Hindi lamang sa standard solving nagpakitang-gilas si Leo Borromeo, dahil nakuha rin niya ang unang puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed at 4x4x4 Cube. Sa One-Handed event na nilahukan ng 29 na manlalaro, nagwagi siya gamit ang 13.32 average at best single na 8.49, kung saan sumunod sa podium sina Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na may 16.50 at Lance Enzo Yap na may 16.87. Sa mas malaking 4x4x4 Cube na may 21 competitors, nanguna muli si Borromeo sa pamamagitan ng 25.90 average at 23.27 single, habang pumangalawa si Aquino sa 32.74 at pumangatlo si Brian Acuña sa 39.14.

Nagpakita naman ng dominasyon si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino sa mga non-cubic na kategorya matapos walisin ang Pyraminx at Skewb. Sa Pyraminx, nagrehistro si Aquino ng 3.48 winning average laban sa 20 kalahok, kasunod sina Jasper Lee Marbella na may 4.95 at Chrisgel G. Tubianosa na may 6.55. Sa Skewb naman, nanguna muli si Aquino na may 3.97 average, kung saan pumangalawa si Kirby Jay Caragan sa 4.66 at pumangatlo si Jasper Lee Marbella sa 5.05.

Sa mas mabilisang 2x2x2 Cube na umakit ng 37 kalahok, nasungkit ni Lance Enzo Yap ang kampeonato sa pamamagitan ng 3.05 average at 1.86 single time. Tinalo niya sa finals sina Kristian Gil Caragan na nagtala ng 3.17 average at Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na nagsumite ng 3.59. Sa kabilang banda, pinatunayan ni Kristian Gil Caragan ang kanyang husay sa memorya matapos manalo sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded na may 1:16.69 average at 1:07.00 single time, daig sina Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na may 1:17.42 at Joshua David Tan na may 2:41.50.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, nagpakitang-gilas ang maraming manlalaro na nagtala ng malalaking personal best sa speedcubing. Si Johann Archieval G. Tacatani, na sumabak sa tatlong kategorya at tumapos sa ika-16 na puwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube, ay nagtala ng 10.29 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 39.7 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dati niyang 17.07, 3.61 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 30.7 porsyentong bilis mula 5.21, at 26.38 sa One-Handed na 12.1 porsyentong pag-angat mula 30.00. Malaking pag-unlad din ang ipinamalas ni Harry Jacalan Delantes sa tatlong event, kabilang ang 30.76 sa One-Handed na 26.1 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa 41.63, 14.25 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 21.2 porsyentong bilis mula 18.08, at 6.70 sa 2x2x2 Cube mula 7.80. Samantala, si Jason Miguel Fernandez Tudtud ay nagtala ng 3.60 sa kanyang unang pagsubok sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan nakuha niya ang ika-10 puwesto, bukod sa 14.88 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 11.6 porsyentong mas mabilis mula 16.83. Naitala naman ni Mireia Frances B. Repunte ang 7.42 sa kanyang unang pagsubok sa 2x2x2 Cube at 27.80 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 5.2 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa 29.32.

Naging makabuluhan din ang araw para sa mga bagong sumabak sa opisyal na WCA competition sa unang pagkakataon. Si Jules Alain J. Cardeño ay sumalang sa tatlong event kung saan nagtala siya ng 43.12 sa One-Handed, 21.27 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 6.53 sa 2x2x2 Cube sa kanyang mga unang opisyal na pagsubok. Sa kanyang debut, sumabak din si Patrick Iggy P. Galapate sa tatlong kategorya at nakuha ang ika-12 puwesto sa 3x3x3 Cube tangan ang 11.11, kasabay ng 49.77 sa 4x4x4 Cube at 2.94 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Ganoon din si Audi Tiu na sumabak sa tatlong kategorya at pumwesto sa ika-20 sa Pyraminx na may 19.77, bukod sa 18.15 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 5.48 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Hindi rin nagpahuli si Clanz Cerilla na lumaban sa dalawang kategorya at nagtala ng 5.83 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 26.46 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kanyang unang torneo.

Sa pagtatapos ng Cebu Cube Cup 2023, naging patunay ang buong paligsahan sa lumalawak na galing at dedikasyon ng mga manlalaro sa iba-ibang anyo ng puzzle. Lahat ng 21 podium places ay nakuha ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas, tanda ng matatag na pundasyon ng naturang komunidad. Mula sa mga beteranong humakot ng ginto hanggang sa mga baguhang sumubok sa unang pagkakataon, ang bawat solve sa cubing competition na ito ay nag-iwan ng magandang marka para sa darating pang mga laban.