GANCUBE Puzzles in Pi Day Pampanga 2026

Ninety-five competitors gathered at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga on March 14, 2026, turning a single Saturday into a whirlwind showcase of modern speedcubing. While puzzle enthusiasts worldwide often appreciate the quiet, calculated pen-and-paper analysis associated with events like Fewest Moves, this tournament traded reflective notation for high-octane turning speed. The bustling atmosphere in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines set the stage for eight official events, contrasting deliberate theoretical mastery with raw physical dexterity at GANCUBE Puzzles in Pi Day Pampanga 2026.

Across ten rounds of intense action, the classic Rubik's Cube drew a massive field of 94 contenders through three distinct stages of eliminations. Crimson Arradaza delivered a masterclass in the premier division, capturing first place with a blistering 7.05 final average and securing a tournament-best single solve of 5.02 seconds. Arradaza was flanked on the podium by Leigh Anne Nijel Guibani, who took second place with a 7.67 average, and Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes, who claimed third with a mark of 7.92 seconds in the final round.

The 3x3 results highlighted an extraordinary level of consistency from the top seeds across the entire bracket. Arradaza set a 6.86 average and a 5.35 single during the earlier rounds, while Magallanes posted a 7.41 average alongside a 5.54 single. Strong marks also came from Nicole Jnus Macalalad with an 8.08 average, James Michael R. Salise at 8.11, Xavier De Vera averaging 8.20, and Leigh Anne Nijel Guibani recording an 8.50 average, underscoring the deep talent pool present at this WCA competition.

Crimson Arradaza was not finished with just one title, proving his versatility by also taking victory in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Navigating the puzzle with a single hand, Arradaza posted a winning average of 9.84 seconds and the event's top single of 8.40 seconds across 41 competitors. Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc earned the silver medal with an 11.52 average, while Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes stepped onto another podium by taking third place with a time of 14.40 seconds.

The big cube categories belonged entirely to Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc, who put together an astonishing triple-crown performance. Palisoc started his sweep in 4x4x4 Cube, posting a winning average of 26.63 seconds ahead of Mark Aeron Santos at 33.11 and Jem Poon at 34.90. Moving up to 5x5x5 Cube, Palisoc topped the 29-player roster with a 44.28 average, again outpacing Santos, who took second in 58.14, and Guibani, who finished third in 1:01.54. He sealed the sweep in 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 1:50.33, clear of Yuji Yoshida and Niño Francis S. Reyes.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors made massive personal strides across multiple disciplines. Andrei D. Usoria took on four events, logging a 42.4 percent drop in 4x4x4 Cube with a personal best of 56.10 seconds, cutting his 3x3x3 Cube best to 10.50 seconds, and registering a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube of 1:45.12 to place 24th. Frank Aidan Ngaw knocked 40.4 percent off his Pyraminx time down to 6.21 seconds, while recording first ever official attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 2:05.78 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 51.69.

Reign Clive C. Cruz tackled six events, achieving a 38.3 percent improvement in Skewb at 8.12 seconds, a 34.6 percent drop in 3x3x3 Cube to 13.37 seconds, and a first ever 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt of 34.48 seconds. Ethan Cobe Mendoza chopped 28.1 percent off his Pyraminx best down to 5.80 seconds, took 27th in Skewb with a debut 10.80 solve, and logged a first 4x4x4 Cube mark of 2:27.43. Vince Alwin R. Barloza advanced his 4x4x4 Cube best by 26 percent to 44.62 seconds to finish 18th, alongside first attempts in Skewb at 8.56 and Pyraminx at 7.88.

Expanding their repertoires further, Warren Joseph D. Domingo entered six events, securing 11th in 3x3x3 Cube, an 11.8 percent improvement in 4x4x4 Cube at 49.81 seconds, and debut marks in Skewb at 9.71 and 5x5x5 Cube at 2:28.38. Brandon Kurdt Cruz Dagum logged first attempts across Skewb at 18.59, 4x4x4 Cube at 1:45.62, and One-Handed at 31.63 across five events. Elijah Paolo Gregorio also took on five categories, claiming 11th in 7x7x7 Cube with an initial 9:13.00 attempt, alongside first attempts in 5x5x5 Cube at 2:21.30 and One-Handed at 39.14.

The side events brought further excitement to the floor as James Certeza triumphed in Pyraminx with an average of 3.64 seconds, besting Angelito Jabez G. Macatulad and Josiah James Guevarra. In Skewb, Ayra Aiesha N. Negrillo secured first place with an average of 4.49 seconds, narrowly edging Kenneth Carlos and Lawrence Benedict N. Sison. In 3x3x3 Blindfolded, where pure memorisation meets total tactile recall, Takuma Shirahase took the title for Japan with a winning single of 58.47 seconds over Gian Paolo Mariano and Yuji Yoshida.

With 23 podium spots claimed by local competitors from the Philippines and one by Japan, GANCUBE Puzzles in Pi Day Pampanga 2026 stood out as a vibrant celebration of dexterity, practice, and concentration. The day demonstrated the rich variety of modern speed cubing, from lightning-fast side puzzles to the endurance demands of the largest cubes. As the final equipment was packed away in the City of San Fernando, the achievements logged throughout this cubing competition provided plenty of momentum for the year ahead.

Sa huling solve ng 3x3x3 Cube final, naungusan ni Crimson Arradaza ang mahigpit na kompetisyon upang masungkit ang kampeonato sa GANCUBE Puzzles in Pi Day Pampanga 2026. Sa harap ng 94 na kalahok sa naturang kategorya, nagtala si Arradaza ng winning average na 7.05 matapos ang tatlong matitinding rounds, kasama ang pinakamabilis na single na 5.02. Pumangalawa si Leigh Anne Nijel Guibani na nagtala ng 7.67 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagsumite ng 7.92 average sa isang dikitang labanan sa podium.

Ginanap sa Robinsons Starmills Pampanga sa City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines noong March 14, 2026, ang naturang cubing competition ay tinampukan ng 95 competitors sa kabuuang 8 events at 10 rounds. Hindi nagpatinag ang mga kalahok sa buong maghapon ng mabilisang paglutas ng Rubik's Cube. Ang torneo ay nagsilbing pagpapakitang-gilas ng pinakamahuhusay na speedcubing athletes sa bansa, kung saan naging saksi ang mga manonood sa mga pambihirang bilis ng kamay at talas ng isip sa bawat kategorya.

Bukod sa pangunahing dibisyon, nagpakitang-gilas din si Arradaza sa 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos magwagi tangan ang 9.84 average at 8.40 best single laban sa 41 kalahok. Pumangalawa sa kategoryang ito si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na may 11.52 average, habang si Magallanes ang pumangatlo sa 14.40. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, kung saan kailangan ang matinding memorya bago buuin ang puzzle nang nakapiring, nagwagi si Takuma Shirahase mula sa Japan na may winning single na 58.47. Pumangalawa si Gian Paolo Mariano sa 59.93 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa 1:10.40.

Naging matagumpay rin ang kampanya ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa mas malalaking puzzle sa GANCUBE Puzzles in Pi Day Pampanga 2026. Pinangunahan ni Palisoc ang 4x4x4 Cube na may 26.63 winning average at 24.65 best single, kasunod sina Mark Aeron Santos na may 33.11 at Jem Poon na may 34.90. Nagpatuloy ang kanyang dominasyon sa 5x5x5 Cube kung saan nagwagi siya sa average na 44.28 at 38.49 single laban kina Santos na may 58.14 at Guibani na nagtala ng 1:01.54. Sa 7x7x7 Cube, wagi muli si Palisoc sa average na 1:50.33 kontra kina Yoshida na may 2:45.64 at Niño Francis S. Reyes na may 2:52.00.

Sa iba pang kategorya ng paligsahan, nagwagi si James Certeza sa Pyraminx matapos magrehistro ng 3.64 average at 1.61 best single, laban kina Angelito Jabez G. Macatulad na may 4.72 at Josiah James Guevarra na may 4.92. Sa Skewb, napasakamay ni Ayra Aiesha N. Negrillo ang unang pwesto gamit ang 4.49 average at 3.90 single, habang pumangalawa si Kenneth Carlos sa 4.76 at pumangatlo si Lawrence Benedict N. Sison sa 4.87. Sa kabuuan, 23 podium finishes ang nasungkit ng Pilipinas at isa para sa Japan.

Sa likod ng mga pwesto sa podium sa GANCUBE Puzzles in Pi Day Pampanga 2026, kapansin-pansin ang mga personal na tagumpay ng ilang manlalaro. Ibinaba ni Spencer Pagal ang kanyang Pyraminx personal best sa 5.37 mula 8.86, isang pagbilis na 39.4 porsyento, kasabay ng kanyang unang sabak sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na nagbunga ng 22.81 average at ika-18 pwesto. Pinabilis naman ni Akio Malchiel De Guzman ang kanyang 3x3x3 One-Handed nang 32.9 porsyento sa oras na 49.52 at ang 3x3x3 Cube nang 13.6 porsyento sa 15.37, habang sumubok sa 4x4x4 Cube sa unang pagkakataon sa 1:48.48.

Nagpakita rin ng gilas si Dominic Mapile na nagtala ng 6.53 sa Pyraminx para sa ika-9 na pwesto at 6.19 sa Skewb sa kanyang mga unang pagsubok, habang pinabilis ang 3x3x3 Cube personal best sa 12.36 mula 14.33. Si Raffy Valencia naman ay nagtala ng personal best na 16.47 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 12.1 porsyento na mas mabilis kaysa dati, kasama ang unang pagtatangka sa Skewb na 21.79 at Pyraminx na 11.54. Sumabak din sa apat na events ang mga baguhan sa WCA competition tulad nina Juan Greeco S. Gomez na nagtala ng 12.70 sa 3x3x3 Cube, Charbert Cayanan na nagsumite ng 9.16 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 53.15 sa 4x4x4 Cube, Marcus Andrei G. Tolentino na may 6.80 sa Pyraminx, at Jaque Noaj Dizon na nagtala ng 9.05 sa Pyraminx at 11.61 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Ang buong araw ng paligsahan sa Robinsons Starmills ay nagpatunay sa lumalalim na galing ng mga manlalaro sa rehiyon. Mula sa mga beteranong humakot ng panalo hanggang sa mga sumubok sa kanilang pinakaunang mga opisyal na solve, matagumpay na naisara ang GANCUBE Puzzles in Pi Day Pampanga 2026 bilang isang makabuluhang yugto sa kalendaryo ng bansa.