Cebu New Year Open 2023

The open concourses of Robinsons Galleria Cebu hummed with focused energy as 56 competitors gathered to launch the new season. Tables lined with timers and mats stood ready in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, where the opening exchanges of the 2023 schedule got underway on January 7, 2023. Speedcubing enthusiasts arrived eager to test their form after the break, turning the venue into a vibrant hub of rapid turning and meticulous inspection. From early morning, the rhythmic clack of plastic resonated across the floor, signaling the start of a packed day across eight official events.

The rapid-fire disciplines headlined the schedule at Cebu New Year Open 2023, where raw turning speed and split-second decisions dictated the podium. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Jose Polorhenzo Aquino delivered a commanding performance across two rounds to secure the title with an average of 2.11 seconds, anchored by a best single of 1.78 seconds. Leo Borromeo followed closely in second place with a 2.84 average, while Kristian Gil Caragan claimed third on a 3.26 mark. The field of 49 entrants set a fierce pace right from the opening round.

The flagship 3x3x3 Cube event drew 55 competitors over three full rounds, offering the main spectacle of the cubing competition. Leo Borromeo dominated the final, posting a remarkable 6.00 winning average and registering the fastest single solve of the entire discipline at 5.44 seconds. Jose Polorhenzo Aquino finished in the runner-up spot with an 8.44 average, followed by Miguel Gonzaga in third at 9.04. The 3x3 results demonstrated world-class precision at the highest tier of Philippine speed cubing.

Beyond the traditional Rubik's Cube main event, Borromeo expanded his victory tally with decisive wins in both 3x3x3 One-Handed and the 4x4x4 Cube. In the one-handed event, Borromeo topped the 33-competitor field with an average of 11.60 seconds, ahead of Aquino at 17.43 and Lance Enzo Yap at 17.72. Borromeo then mastered the 4x4x4 Cube, producing a winning average of 24.26 seconds alongside a 23.75 single. Aquino placed second with a 30.82 average, while Gonzaga finished third in 33.59.

Aquino matched that multi-event prowess by capturing two additional titles during Cebu New Year Open 2023. In the Pyraminx, Aquino led a 29-player field with a winning average of 3.97 seconds, outpacing Gonzaga at 4.46 and Brian Acuña at 7.06. Moving to the largest puzzle of the day, Aquino captured first place in the 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 2:40.67 and a single of 2:38.41, besting Acuña at 2:51.89 and Gonzaga at 2:57.95.

Away from the championship podiums, the WCA competition provided plenty of remarkable breakthroughs for competitors quietly climbing the ranks. Rafe Philippe Ding delivered exceptional progress, cutting his 2x2x2 Cube personal best down to 2.63 seconds, a 66.2 percent improvement from his prior 7.78 mark, while taking 24 percent off his Pyraminx best at 9.39 and finishing 3x3x3 with a 16.14 best. Kelly Tacatani shaved 60.9 percent off their previous 3x3x3 One-Handed time to record 28.98 seconds and improved their 3x3x3 best to 13.38. Miyuki Yap Yu entered four events, trimming their 2x2x2 single by 55.4 percent to 7.27, their one-handed mark by 35.7 percent to 1:24.41, and their 3x3x3 best to 23.92. Cornelius Miguel Sevilla logged a first ever attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed with 34.11, a first 4x4x4 attempt at 59.95 to finish 17th, and improved their 3x3x3 best by 43.7 percent down to 16.20.

First-time event entries and milestone solves continued across the roster. Mish Nicole S. Sebial tackled the 4x4x4 Cube for the first time with a 48.60 solve to secure 10th place, while improving their 2x2x2 best by 43.3 percent to 2.78 and one-handed by 31.9 percent to 20.50. Kritzz Nathan Ladera entered six events, logging first-ever attempts in Pyraminx at 6.37, 4x4x4 Cube at 2:09.56, and Skewb at 6.58 on the way to a 9th-place Skewb finish. Bran Misashi Ornido competed across four events, recording first career attempts in Pyraminx with 10.26, one-handed with 42.65, and 2x2x2 with 4.10, reaching 13th in Pyraminx. River Misashi Ornido took on three events, registering first attempts in Pyraminx at 15.87 and 2x2x2 at 23.01, alongside a 17.4 percent improvement on 3x3x3 to 50.53.

The remaining puzzle formats rounded out the comprehensive single-day slate. In the Skewb event, Miguel Gonzaga secured the gold medal with an average of 4.17 seconds, edging Jasper Lee Marbella at 4.30 and Kirby Jay Caragan at 4.79. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, which challenges competitors to solve purely from memory without sight, Jedrick Remonde emerged victorious with a best single solve of 56.63 seconds, followed by Kristian Gil Caragan with 1:12.56 and Aquino with 1:07.25.

With all 11 rounds concluded, Cebu New Year Open 2023 wrapped up an action-packed day of competition that celebrated both top-level speed and individual milestones across the community. All 24 podium positions were claimed by competitors from the Philippines across the eight contested disciplines. The balanced mix of rapid sprints, big cubes, and specialty puzzles set a strong foundation for the region as the cubing calendar moves deeper into the 2023 campaign.

Niyanig ni Leo Borromeo ang entablado sa Robinsons Galleria Cebu matapos magtala ng pambihirang 6.00 winning average sa 3x3x3 Cube upang selyuhan ang tagumpay sa pinakatampok na labanan. Sa isang clutch performance sa finals na humarap sa 55 competitors sa kabuuang tatlong rounds, ipinakita ni Borromeo ang bilis sa pamamagitan ng best single na 5.44. Dahil dito, naiuwi niya ang gintong medalya laban kay Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na nagtala ng 8.44 average at Miguel Gonzaga na pumangatlo sa bilis na 9.04.

Ang naturang laban ang nagbigay-buhay sa Cebu New Year Open 2023, isang kapana-panabik na WCA competition na ginanap sa Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines noong January 7, 2023. Sa pagsalubong sa bagong taon ng speedcubing, nagtipon ang 56 competitors upang magpaligsahan sa walong opisyal na events at labing-isang rounds. Lahat ng 24 podium finishes sa buong paligsahan ay napasakamay ng mga pambato mula sa Pilipinas, na nagpatunay sa mataas na antas ng husay ng mga lokal na manlalaro.

Hindi nagpahuli si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na nagpakitang-gilas sa maraming dibisyon sa buong cubing competition. Si Aquino ang nagwagi sa 2x2x2 Cube taglay ang 2.11 winning average at best single na 1.78, habang pumangalawa naman si Leo Borromeo sa 2.84 at pumangatlo si Kristian Gil Caragan sa 3.26. Namuno rin si Aquino sa Pyraminx matapos magsumite ng 3.97 average laban kina Miguel Gonzaga na may 4.46 at Brian Acuña na may 7.06.

Sa pinakamalaking puzzle ng torneo, ang 7x7x7 Cube, muling nanguna si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino sa kanyang 2:40.67 winning average at pinakamabilis na single na 2:38.41. Sumunod sa kanya si Brian Acuña na may 2:51.89 average at Miguel Gonzaga na pumoste ng 2:57.95 average. Ipinamalas din ni Aquino ang kanyang malawak na kakayahan sa pamamagitan ng pagpasok sa podium ng halos bawat salihan niyang kategorya sa buong paligsahan.

Nagpatuloy naman ang dominasyon ni Leo Borromeo sa mas kumplikadong mga pagsubok sa Rubik's Cube. Sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, nakamit ni Borromeo ang unang puwesto na may 11.60 average at 11.09 best single laban kina Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na nagtala ng 17.43 at Lance Enzo Yap na may 17.72. Humakot din ng isa pang tagumpay si Borromeo sa 4x4x4 Cube kung saan nagrehistro siya ng 24.26 winning average at 23.75 single upang unahan muli si Aquino na may 30.82 at Gonzaga na may 33.59.

Sa likod ng mga labanan para sa titulo, maraming kalahok ang nagpakita ng kahanga-hangang pagsulong sa kani-kanilang mga personal best. Pinangunahan ito ni Mikkel Trieste Bangot na sumabak sa apat na kategorya at umukit ng 32.35 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 46.7% na mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating rekord, bukod pa sa 15.97 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 10.48 sa Pyraminx. Gumawa rin ng malaking hakbang si Shaun Benedict Yu sa kanyang 10.31 sa Skewb na 40.6% na mas mabilis kaysa sa dati, habang si Jacx Pepito ay nagtala ng 21.71 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 31.4% na mas mabilis. Naabot naman ni Aiyana Cassandra C. Dinolang ang ikaapat na puwesto sa Pyraminx sa kanyang unang opisyal na subok na 5.47, kasabay ng personal best na 7.12 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 16.37 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Naging espesyal din ang araw para sa mga bagong saltik na sumabak sa kanilang unang WCA competition. Hinarap ni Juaquin Carlo I. Macrohon ang limang events kung saan nagtala siya ng 17.15 sa Skewb, 7.69 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 33.02 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Sumabak naman sa apat na larangan si Supranto Vincent Emanuel at nagrehistro ng 4.37 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 19.27 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 11.79 sa Pyraminx. Gayundin, lumaban si Julio Damian O. Antunez sa apat na kategorya na may 2.58 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 19.70 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 15.75 sa Pyraminx, habang si Harry Jacalan Delantes ay nagtala ng 41.63 sa unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, 7.80 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 18.08 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Sa iba pang mga kategorya ng torneo, nakamit ni Miguel Gonzaga ang ginto sa Skewb taglay ang 4.17 winning average upang talunin sina Jasper Lee Marbella na may 4.30 at Kirby Jay Caragan na may 4.79. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, kung saan matinding memorya at konsentrasyon ang kailangan, nagwagi si Jedrick Remonde tangan ang pinakamabilis na solong oras na 56.63, kasunod sina Kristian Gil Caragan na may 1:12.56 at Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na may 1:07.25.

Nagtapos ang Cebu New Year Open 2023 bilang isang makabuluhang pagtitipon ng komunidad sa pagbubukas ng taon. Sa pagpapakita ng husay ng mga beterano at ang pag-usbong ng mga bagong mukha, naging matagumpay ang buong araw ng paligsahan sa pagpapatatag ng galing ng mga Pilipinong manlalaro sa larangan ng bilis at talas ng isip.