Cebu Cube Preview 2024

A total of 49 competitors stepped up to the tables as speedcubing returned to SM Seaside on June 29, 2024. Staged in Cebu City, Philippines, the gathering brought together competitors across 8 events and 12 hard-fought rounds. High stakes and fierce timing characterised the day as both established champions and emerging talents pushed their limits on the official stage. The intensity remained palpable from the opening solves through to the late afternoon finals.

The 2x2x2 Cube tournament delivered a relentless string of standout marks that reshaped the weekend standings. Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes led the charge, securing victory with a scorching 1.98-second average in the final round and logging a 1.68 single alongside a 2.45 average earlier in the day. Jasper Lee Marbella claimed second place overall with a 3.71 average, having posted a 2.94 single and 3.97 average. Bea Alexandra Marie Flores completed the podium in third with a 4.01 average, adding a 4.24 single and 4.47 average to the competition tallies.

That rapid pace on the 2x2x2 Cube puzzle extended throughout the field during the preliminary action. Kirby Jay Caragan registered a 2.34 single and a 3.97 average, while Brian Acuña marked down a 2.93 single and a 4.13 average. Strong marks were also logged by Johann Archieval G. Tacatani with a 2.97 single and 4.19 average, Matthew Liam D. Melocoton with a 3.65 single and 4.33 average, and Jason Miguel Fernandez Tudtud with a 2.81 single and 4.44 average. Chrisgel G. Tubianosa added a 3.28 single and 4.49 average, followed by Larence Dayll C. Conde who delivered a 2.96 single and 4.52 average.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube division, Leo Borromeo put on a clinic to capture top honours. Across three demanding rounds, Borromeo set the standard by logging a winning average of 6.63 seconds, highlighted by a blistering 4.89 single solve that proved to be the fastest of the tournament. Neo Cuares applied serious pressure to earn second place with a 6.97 average, while Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes earned third on an 8.91 average. The official 3x3 results confirmed the remarkable consistency required to prevail in the classic Rubik's Cube discipline.

Borromeo extended his dominance into the larger puzzles, turning the cubing competition into a showcase of big cube mastery. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Borromeo secured the gold with a 25.69 average and a best single of 24.40, finishing ahead of Neo Cuares who took silver in 27.03 and Brian Acuña who finished third in 42.34. Moving to the 5x5x5 Cube, Borromeo collected his third title of the day with a 55.61 average, joined on the podium by Acuña in second at 1:16.94 and Kirby Jay Caragan in third at 1:24.84.

Beyond the title fights, Cebu Cube Preview 2024 provided the backdrop for massive personal leaps that define the spirit of speed cubing. Daniel Janreyl Lim led the personal best improvements by dropping his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 2.17, a dramatic 61.3 percent drop from his previous 5.60, alongside a 27.48 in 3x3x3 One-Handed and a 10.33 in 3x3x3 Cube. Jade Angelo Cardeño took on three events, taking down his 2x2x2 Cube best to 4.16 for a 50.9 percent improvement, improving his 3x3x3 Cube best to 11.91, and logging a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with 42.60. Anya Leonne A. Tumanda cut 48.6 percent off her Pyraminx best with a 14.43, placed 20th, and made her first attempts at 4x4x4 Cube in 2:56.29 and 2x2x2 Cube in 5.64. Zean Mariuss C. Algarme tackled six events, achieving a best finish of 5th in 5x5x5 Cube while dropping his Pyraminx best by 48.5 percent to 4.33, his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 43.04, and his 2x2x2 Cube time to 4.28.

The progress continued across the venue as several other competitors expanded their event repertoires. Uno Elyonn A. Tumanda improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 47.1 percent to 13.73, secured 16th in Pyraminx, and logged first ever attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:40.98 and 2x2x2 Cube at 4.05. Jules Alain J. Cardeño contested five events, cutting his 3x3x3 Cube time by 38.6 percent to 13.06, while logging first ever attempts at Pyraminx in 9.49 to finish 15th and 4x4x4 Cube in 1:32.51. Jason Miguel Fernandez Tudtud earned 4th place in 2x2x2 Cube, improved his Pyraminx mark by 30.7 percent to 6.51, improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed time to 19.10, and logged a first ever attempt in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:09.49. Rihannah Kadik Agbay reduced her 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 23.3 percent to 18.32 and registered first career attempts in 2x2x2 Cube at 6.40 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 48.83.

The specialist disciplines featured tactical battles across diverse solving formats. Neo Cuares claimed the 3x3x3 One-Handed crown with an 11.25 average and 10.03 single, holding off Leo Borromeo at 12.11 and Brian Acuña at 18.41. In Pyraminx, Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado won the final with a 4.98 average ahead of Jasper Lee Marbella at 5.70 and Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes at 6.21. Kirby Jay Caragan triumphed in Skewb with a 3.63 average, outpacing Marbella at 5.14 and Rhea Blair O. Dulman at 5.22. Brian Acuña captured the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title with a winning single of 51.36 seconds, followed by Bea Alexandra Marie Flores at 1:21.10 and Hilado at 1:40.54.

All 24 podium positions across the eight events were claimed by competitors representing the Philippines. As Cebu Cube Preview 2024 concluded at SM Seaside, the WCA competition demonstrated both the sharp technical precision at the top of the standings and the widespread progress across the local community. With benchmark times lowered and new milestones achieved, the stage is firmly set for the next chapter of regional competition.

Apatnapu't siyam na mga kalahok ang nagtipon sa SM Seaside para sa Cebu Cube Preview 2024 noong Hunyo 29, 2024. Sa kabuuan ng araw, sumabak ang komunidad sa labindalawang rounds na sumasaklaw sa walong magkakaibang larangan. Marami sa mga nakipagkumpetensya sa Cebu City, Philippines ay mga bagong mukha na ngayon lamang sumubok sa opisyal na entablado ng WCA competition, dahilan upang maging kapana-panabik ang bawat solve sa buong torneo.

Ang tradisyunal na 3x3x3 Cube, na kilala ng marami bilang klasikong Rubik's Cube, ay nagtampok ng tatlong rounds bago napagpasyahan ang kampeon. Si Leo Borromeo ang nanguna sa naturang event na may winning average na 6.63 at pinakamabilis na single time na 4.89. Pumangalawa si Neo Cuares na nagtala ng average na 6.97, habang si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes naman ang pumangatlo sa kanyang 8.91 average sa podium.

Hindi lamang sa pangunahing event nagpamalas ng bilis si Leo Borromeo, dahil naiuwi rin niya ang panalo sa mas malalaking cubes sa Cebu Cube Preview 2024. Sa 4x4x4 Cube, nakuha niya ang unang pwesto na may 25.69 average at 24.40 single, habang sumunod si Neo Cuares sa 27.03 at si Brian Acuña sa 42.34. Nagwagi muli si Leo Borromeo sa 5x5x5 Cube matapos magtala ng 55.61 average laban kina Brian Acuña na may 1:16.94 at Kirby Jay Caragan na may 1:24.84.

Sa iba pang bahagi ng cubing competition, nagpakitang-gilas si Neo Cuares sa 3x3x3 One-Handed kung saan siya ang nagkampeon tangan ang 11.25 average at 10.03 single solve. Pumangalawa rito si Leo Borromeo na nagtala ng 12.11 average, at pumangatlo naman si Brian Acuña na nagrehistro ng 18.41. Samantala, pinatunayan ni Brian Acuña ang kanyang galing sa memorya matapos manalo sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded sa pamamagitan ng pinakamabilis na single time na 51.36 laban kina Bea Alexandra Marie Flores na may 1:21.10 at Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado na may 1:40.54.

Naging mabilis din ang mga labanan sa mga side events tulad ng 2x2x2 Cube kung saan naghari si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagtala ng sub-two average na 1.98. Pumangalawa si Jasper Lee Marbella sa 3.71 at ikatlo si Bea Alexandra Marie Flores sa 4.01. Sa Pyraminx, nanguna si Gabriel Angelo V. Hilado na may 4.98 winning average, habang sa Skewb naman ay si Kirby Jay Caragan ang sumungkit ng ginto sa kanyang 3.63 average laban sa iba pang kalahok.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa Cebu Cube Preview 2024, marami sa mga kalahok ang nagtala ng malalaking personal na tagumpay sa kani-kanilang mga talaan. Si Terrence Sebastian ay sumabak sa limang events at nagtala ng Pyraminx personal best na 7.03 na mas mabilis nang 40.8 porsyento, 5x5x5 Cube personal best na 1:32.55 na 27.2 porsyentong bilis, at 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 12.68. Si Lucas Solon naman ay pumasok sa apat na events, nagtala ng unang subok sa 4x4x4 Cube na 1:04.48, at nagtala ng 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 15.26 na 20 porsyentong mas mabilis. Nagpakitang-gilas din si Joaquin Vicente De Larrazabal sa anim na events kung saan nagtala siya ng unang subok sa 5x5x5 Cube na 1:26.65, 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 9.75 na 10.1 porsyentong pagbuti, at One-Handed personal best na 16.91. Samantala, si Reanne Salazar ay nagsumite ng unang subok sa 4x4x4 Cube na 3:10.20 at 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 13.42.

Naging espesyal din ang paligsahan para sa mga manlalarong unang beses sumabak sa opisyal na torneo. Si Hans Gabriel Batulan ay nagtala ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 34.25, 2x2x2 Cube na 12.24, at Pyraminx na 14.16 kung saan nagtapos siya sa ika-19 na pwesto. Si Gregg Alfred Tuñacao ay sumabak sa tatlong kategorya at nagrehistro ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 15.35, 2x2x2 Cube na 7.33, at Pyraminx na 8.05. Sa kabilang banda, si Lance Justin Bongola ay nagtala ng unang subok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 4.79, 3x3x3 One-Handed na 59.24, at 3x3x3 Cube na 19.57, habang si Stephanie Amber Torrejos ay nagtala ng unang subok sa tatlong events kabilang ang 26.67 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 1:12.28 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 28.06 sa Pyraminx.

Ang buong araw ng speedcubing sa Cebu Cube Preview 2024 ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng determinasyon mula sa lahat ng kalahok sa rehiyon. Mula sa mga beteranong humakot ng mga parangal hanggang sa mga baguhang ngayon pa lamang nagsisimula ng kanilang karera, naging matagumpay ang pagtitipon sa pagpapamalas ng galing at bilis ng mga manlalaro sa Pilipinas ngayong taong 2024.