Imus Sides Matter 2024

Twenty-nine competitors gathered on August 10, 2024, bringing an energetic atmosphere to Lotus Central Mall in Imus City, Cavite, Philippines. The single-day speedcubing gathering shifted the usual spotlight away from the standard 3x3 results, focusing entirely on secondary disciplines. With six non-standard events spanning across nine intense rounds, participants embraced the friendly camaraderie that defines the local cubing competition scene, trading tips, sharing solves, and cheering on one another across tables throughout the lively mall floor.

The spirit of the WCA competition was on full display in the 2x2x2 Cube event, which brought together twenty-eight participants across two rounds. Isaiah Benedict S. Feria took the top step of the podium with a winning average of 2.20 seconds, edging out Brenton Angelo Lo Wong, who claimed second place with an average of 2.27. Jose Polorhenzo Aquino rounded out the top three with an average of 2.32 seconds. Feria also recorded the event's fastest single solve of the day at 1.61 seconds in a tightly contested final.

Jose Polorhenzo Aquino emerged as one of the standout performers across the weekend, claiming two individual event victories and multiple podium spots. Aquino secured the Pyraminx title against a field of twenty-eight entrants, finishing with a winning average of 4.06 seconds and a best single of 3.02. Psyron Eubert Catral took second place with a 4.35 average, while Isaiah Benedict S. Feria secured third in 4.38. Aquino doubled up his gold medal haul in Square-1, winning the event with an average of 9.23 seconds and a sharp 8.50 single.

Beyond the traditional twisty puzzles, speed cubing precision took center stage in the Clock event. Zoei Principe delivered a dominant performance over two rounds, capturing the win with an impressive average of 3.83 seconds and the day's best single solve of 3.13. Elijah Francis Jagonio earned the runner-up spot with an average of 5.07 seconds, while Zian Principe took third place averaging 5.57 seconds in a showcase of technical dexterity.

Away from the top of the podium, several solvers achieved major milestones that highlighted their dedication and steady progress across multiple formats. Justin Louis D. Olivan tackled three events, making a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with an 11.95 while setting a major 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.16 seconds, which was 43.6 percent faster than his prior mark. Olivan also improved his Clock personal best to 28.36 seconds. Bran Misashi Ornido entered four events, posting a first ever attempt at Clock with a 13.25 and dropping his Skewb personal best down to 5.22 seconds, an improvement of 26.2 percent. River Misashi Ornido also logged a first Clock attempt at 23.65 and lowered his 2x2x2 Cube personal best by 18.9 percent to 4.00 seconds.

Other dedicated solvers added to the weekend's achievements across various puzzles. Izaak Kalix Diaz Zamora competed in four disciplines, recording his first Clock attempt with a 32.11 while setting new personal bests in Skewb at 15.42 seconds and Pyraminx at 9.51 seconds. Skyler Johann Bala made his debut attempt on Clock with a 21.04 single and achieved a personal best of 10.39 in Pyraminx. Joaqui Gerard Isip took on a demanding schedule of six events, earning an eighth-place finish in Square-1, a Megaminx personal best of 1:44.34 that was 13.1 percent faster than before, a Clock personal best of 6.80 seconds, and a Skewb personal best of 6.97 seconds.

The 12-sided Megaminx contest provided an exciting test of endurance and spatial awareness for seventeen solvers. Nicole Jnus Macalalad triumphed in the single-round showdown, registering a winning average of 39.07 seconds alongside a top single solve of 37.38. Jose Polorhenzo Aquino picked up another podium by finishing second with an average of 51.66 seconds, while Brenton Angelo Lo Wong secured third place with a 55.46 average.

The Skewb bracket delivered its own share of drama as Javier Ignacio captured the event victory with a winning average of 4.01 seconds, boosted by a swift 2.14 single solve across two rounds of play. Karl Abarquez followed in second place with an average of 4.39, narrowly besting Jose Polorhenzo Aquino, who took third with a 4.42 average. The close margins highlighted the razor-thin differences separating top performers in dynamic rotation formats.

As the day drew to a close in Imus City, Imus Sides Matter 2024 wrapped up with all eighteen podium places going to competitors representing the Philippines. Whether mastering mechanical complexity on Clock, breaking down patterns on Megaminx, or enjoying puzzles beyond the standard Rubik's Cube, participants shared a day full of progress and mutual encouragement. Imus Sides Matter 2024 proved once again that the heart of the community thrives in every discipline.

Umapaw ang bilis at sigla sa loob ng Lotus Central Mall habang nagtitipon ang mga kalahok para sa isang buong araw ng matinding laro. Bawat mesa ay napuno ng mga timer, mat, at sari-saring uri ng puzzle na sumubok sa talas ng isip at liksi ng kamay. Ang paligsahang Imus Sides Matter 2024 na idinaos sa Imus City, Cavite, Philippines noong August 10, 2024 ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay mula sa 29 na kalahok. Sa kabuuang siyam na rounds at anim na opisyal na kategorya, naging napakahigpit ng labanan upang makapasok lamang sa finals.

Sa bilis ng takbo ng bawat round sa speedcubing competition na ito, walang puwang ang anumang pagkakamali para sa mga nagnanais umabante. Dahil sa lalim at galing ng buong grupo, naging madikit ang talaan ng oras mula sa simula hanggang sa pinakahuling pag-ikot ng mga puzzle. Ang tradisyonal na Rubik's Cube man ay hindi kasama sa listahan ng mga laro, pinatunayan ng mga side event na kailangan ng parehong dedikasyon at bilis. Sa ganitong WCA competition, ang bawat segundo at bawat milisegundo ay may katumbas na puwesto sa podium.

Bumida sa 2x2x2 Cube si Isaiah Benedict S. Feria na nagtala ng winning average na 2.20 matapos ang dalawang rounds laban sa 28 kalahok, kasama ang best single na 1.61. Pumangalawa sa naturang laban si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 2.27 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino sa bilis na 2.32 average. Sa naturang dibisyon, nagtala rin si Isaiah Benedict S. Feria ng single na 1.26 at average na 2.00, samantalang si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ay nagtala ng single na 1.18 at average na 2.08 sa kanilang kampanya.

Naging maningning din ang kampanya ni Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na nagwagi ng dalawang titulo sa Imus Sides Matter 2024. Sa Pyraminx na dinaluhan ng 28 kalahok, nakuha niya ang unang puwesto gamit ang 4.06 average at 3.02 best single, habang sumunod sina Psyron Eubert Catral sa 4.35 at Isaiah Benedict S. Feria sa 4.38. Hindi pa doon nagtapos ang kanyang dominasyon dahil inangkin din ni Jose Polorhenzo Aquino ang ginto sa Square-1 sa pamamagitan ng 9.23 winning average at 8.50 single laban kina Psyron Eubert Catral na may 12.13 at Yuji Yoshida na may 12.84.

Sa kategoryang Megaminx na kinabibilangan ng 17 kalahok, nangibabaw si Nicole Jnus Macalalad na nagsumite ng impresibong 39.07 winning average at 37.38 best single. Pumangalawa sa kanya si Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na may 51.66 average, at pumangatlo si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 55.46. Samantala, sa Clock event na may 27 kalahok sa dalawang rounds, nakuha ni Zoei Principe ang kampeonato sa bilis na 3.83 winning average at 3.13 best single, habang sumunod sina Elijah Francis Jagonio na may 5.07 at Zian Principe na nagtala ng 5.57.

Para naman sa Skewb, ipinamalas ni Javier Ignacio ang kanyang bilis upang makuha ang panalo sa 4.01 winning average at 2.14 best single mula sa 21 kalahok. Tinalo niya sa finals sina Karl Abarquez na pumangalawa sa 4.39 average at Jose Polorhenzo Aquino na pumangatlo sa 4.42 average. Sa bawat kategorya ng paligsahan, napatunayan na ang bawat pwesto sa podium ay pinaghirapan nang husto dahil sa dami ng mga bihasang manlalaro na sabay-sabay nagpakitang-gilas sa entablado.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi, maraming magagandang kwento ng pag-unlad ang naitala sa torneo na karaniwang hindi agad napapansin. Si Iya Franzene L. Hufancia na sumabak sa 6 na events ay nagtala ng malaking pagsulong sa Skewb sa pamamagitan ng kanyang personal best na 2.62 na mas mabilis ng 36.9 porsyento kaysa sa dating 4.15, at nagtapos sa ika-8 puwesto. Nagpakita rin ng matinding bilis si Keith Liam H. Rasco sa 6 na events nang magtala ng personal best sa Clock na 3.39 na 24.5 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 4.49, Megaminx na 51.46 na 23.4 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 1:07.18, at Pyraminx na 3.52 na 11.1 porsyentong pagbuti, kalakip ang ika-4 na puwesto sa Square-1.

Ipinagpatuloy din nina Marc Jason L. Laresma at June Adrian Ersando ang magagandang resulta sa kanilang mga sinalihang dibisyon. Si Marc Jason L. Laresma ay sumabak sa 3 events at nagtala ng ika-5 puwesto sa 2x2x2 Cube habang nagtala ng Clock personal best na 4.73 na 23.2 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dating 6.16. Si June Adrian Ersando naman ay lumaban sa 6 na events at nagtala ng 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 2.60 na 13.6 porsyentong pag-angat, Skewb personal best na 3.40 na 12.1 porsyentong bilis, at Megaminx personal best na 1:30.83 na 7.1 porsyentong pagbuti, kasabay ng ika-14 na puwesto sa Square-1. Nakibahagi rin sina Kyle Capiral na lumaban sa 3 events at nagtala ng ika-11 puwesto sa Clock, at Ethan Francis Jagonio na sumabak sa 5 events at nagtapos sa ika-15 puwesto sa Square-1.

Ang buong resulta ng Imus Sides Matter 2024 ay nagpapatunay sa malawak na talento at pagkakaisa ng mga manlalaro sa buong bansa. Sa bawat tapos na solve at bawat bagong personal best, kitang-kita ang bunga ng walang humpay na pagsasanay ng mga delegado sa Cavite. Ang tagumpay ng naturang cubing competition ngayong taong 2024 ay nag-iiwan ng matibay na pundasyon para sa mas marami pang kapana-panabik na laban sa mga susunod na yugto ng palakasan.