Laguna Speedcubing Open II 2023

A blistering 4.85 single in the 3x3x3 Cube served as the standout highlight of Laguna Speedcubing Open II 2023. Held on June 11, 2023 at Robinsons Sta. Rosa in Sta. Rosa Laguna, Philippines, the gathering brought together 83 competitors across nine rounds of intense speedcubing action. The single-day WCA competition showcased premier talent across seven different disciplines, testing agility, recognition, and absolute mental clarity on every turn.

While blindfolded disciplines are famous for demanding pure memorisation and flawless spatial recall under extreme isolation, the standard speed cubing events at this tournament required an identical tier of sustained focus. Solvers faced immense pressure across dense brackets, where one slight miscalculation could shatter an entire average. The atmosphere in Sta. Rosa Laguna rewarded those who maintained total composure from their opening inspection through the final stop of the timer.

Brenton Angelo Lo Wong delivered a masterclass across multiple categories, capturing the premier 3x3x3 Cube crown with a winning average of 6.92 across three rounds. Sean Patrick Villanueva pressed closely behind to claim second place on a 7.07 average, while Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc secured third at 7.66. The 3x3 results topped a packed field of 82 entrants in the main Rubik's Cube category, with Wong also claiming the fastest solve of the entire weekend with his 4.85 single.

Wong carried that momentum straight into the 2x2x2 Cube, topping a 56-competitor field with a winning average of 2.53 and a best single of 2.22. Palisoc finished runner-up with an average of 2.77, while Justine Aaron Villostas claimed third place at 3.11. The rapid-fire format demanded immediate precision, as competitors navigated the tournament with virtually no room for error over five quick solves.

Palisoc dominated the bigger puzzles, taking top honours in both the 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube. In 4x4x4, Palisoc took the title with a 29.30 winning average and a 26.49 single, finishing ahead of Wong and Yuji Yoshida, who both posted 33.53 averages. In 5x5x5, Palisoc captured gold with a 53.10 average, outlasting Cairon Sumadchat at 57.89 and Dale Palmares at 1:00.45. Meanwhile, Villanueva struck gold in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a winning average of 9.81, beating Palisoc at 13.55 and Wong at 13.61.

Beneath the top podium positions, several dedicated solvers achieved major personal milestones. Gio Carlo Abadesco Barrenechea produced a massive breakthrough in the 2x2x2 Cube, cutting his personal best to 7.04 seconds from 12.37, an improvement of 43.1 percent, while also improving his 3x3x3 Cube mark by 27.3 percent to 25.33. John Andrei Hill took on four events, dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 35.1 percent down to 11.07 seconds while attempting 3x3x3 One-Handed and 4x4x4 Cube for the first time with marks of 29.57 and 51.43 respectively. Marcus Ishan De La Paz lowered his 5x5x5 Cube mark by 29.1 percent to 3:08.55 and logged debut attempts in 2x2x2 Cube at 5.62 and 4x4x4 Cube at 1:31.50. Vince Gabriel S. Agustin made his first attempt in 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.89 single for 18th place and lowered his 3x3x3 Cube best by 27.6 percent to 12.00.

The progress continued across various disciplines as Ace Vallen Cambel notched an 11.89 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube, an improvement of 13 percent, lowered his 3x3x3 One-Handed mark to 20.93, and made a debut 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 5.72. Lloyd Robie Tenorio tackled five events, finishing 7th in Square-1 with a debut mark of 14.86, recording a first 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 5.38, and cutting his 3x3x3 Cube best to 11.09. Ryan Balendez made his first official attempts in both Square-1 at 41.75 to finish 14th and 2x2x2 Cube at 3.73. Jethro Marcelo contested three events, logging first-time attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 17.80 for 23rd place and 4x4x4 Cube at 57.40.

Speciality events rounded out the schedule at Laguna Speedcubing Open II 2023 with sharp competitive margins. Nicole Jnus Macalalad took victory in the Megaminx with a 44.49 winning average, followed by Villanueva in second at 52.87 and Nigeria's Ayooluwa Samuel Dada in third with 55.20. In Square-1, Psyron Eubert Catral claimed first place with an average of 10.09, leading Wong at 14.02 and Delbert John Salandanan at 14.12. Across seven distinct formats, the competition delivered an emphatic showcase of technical talent and speed on the regional calendar.

As the cubing competition concluded, the Philippines secured 20 podium places alongside one podium finish for Nigeria, highlighting a vibrant community of solvers. With champions claiming multiple titles and rising contenders posting remarkable personal milestones across every round, the gathering in Sta. Rosa Laguna demonstrated the exceptional depth present in the sport heading into the next cycle of regional tournaments.

May kabuuang 83 kalahok ang nagtipon sa Robinsons Sta. Rosa sa Sta. Rosa Laguna, Philippines noong June 11, 2023 upang maglaban sa 9 na rounds sa kabuuan ng 7 events. Ang buong araw ng speedcubing ay nagpakita ng matinding husay mula sa mga manlalaro kung saan 20 sa 21 kabuuang podium places ay napanalunan ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas. Ang natatanging puwesto sa labas ng bansa ay nakuha mula sa Nigeria, na nagpatunay sa matinding dominasyon ng mga lokal na pambato sa nasabing cubing competition.

Sa pangunahing event na 3x3x3 Cube, ipinamalas ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kanyang pambihirang bilis laban sa 82 competitors sa 3 rounds. Nakuha ni Wong ang kampeonato bitbit ang winning average na 6.92 at best single na 4.85. Sumunod sa kanya si Sean Patrick Villanueva na may average na 7.07 upang sungkitin ang ikalawang puwesto, habang si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc naman ang pumangatlo sa kanyang average na 7.66 sa isa sa pinaka-inaabangang bahagi ng Rubik's Cube labanan.

Hindi nagpaawat si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong nang dominahin din niya ang 2x2x2 Cube kung saan tinalo niya ang 56 competitors sa kanyang winning average na 2.53 at best single na 2.22. Pumangalawa si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagtala ng 2.77 average, habang si Justine Aaron Villostas ang pumangatlo sa bilis na 3.11. Ang maikling event na ito ay naging saksi rin sa mabilisang aksyon na nagpuno sa bulwagan.

Nanguna naman si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa mas malalaking puzzle matapos magwagi sa dalawang magkahiwalay na kategorya. Sa 4x4x4 Cube na nilahukan ng 46 competitors, nakuha ni Palisoc ang unang puwesto sa winning average na 29.30 at best single na 26.49, habang nagtabla sa average na 33.53 sina Brenton Angelo Lo Wong at Yuji Yoshida para sa ikalawa at ikatlong puwesto. Nagpatuloy ang kanyang panalo sa 5x5x5 Cube laban sa 26 competitors bitbit ang winning average na 53.10 at best single na 45.83, kung saan pumangalawa si Cairon Sumadchat sa 57.89 at pumangatlo si Dale Palmares sa 1:00.45.

Sa iba pang kategorya, pinangunahan ni Sean Patrick Villanueva ang 3x3x3 One-Handed laban sa 47 competitors gamit ang 9.81 winning average at 8.24 best single. Pumangalawa si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa 13.55 at pumangatlo si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 13.61. Sa Megaminx, nagwagi si Nicole Jnus Macalalad laban sa 17 competitors sa average na 44.49, habang pumangalawa si Sean Patrick Villanueva sa 52.87 at pumangatlo si Ayooluwa Samuel Dada mula sa Nigeria sa 55.20. Sa Square-1, si Psyron Eubert Catral ang nagkampeon sa average na 10.09, kasunod sina Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 14.02 at Delbert John Salandanan sa 14.12.

Sa likod ng mga nagtataasang podium, marami ring personal na tagumpay ang naitala ng mga manlalaro. Ipinakita ni Gian Jozsef Pascual ang malalaking pag-angat sa 3 events, tampok ang 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 1:11.03 na 36.6% mas mabilis kaysa dati niyang 1:52.07, 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 10.86 na 22.3% tapyas sa 13.98, at 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 22.22 na 21.8% pagbuti mula 28.43, kalakip ang ika-31 puwesto. Si Neil Allen Rubial ay lumaban sa 3 events kung saan nagtala siya ng 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 1:03.39 mula 1:31.91 na 31% na pagbilis, 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 16.50 na 12% na bawas, 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 5.94, at ika-37 puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube. Naging maganda rin ang takbo para kay Chloe Grace Barrenechea sa 3 events sa pamamagitan ng kanyang unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na nagtala ng 27.14 para sa ika-34 puwesto, at 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 15.09 na 9.1% pagbuti mula 16.60. Si John Carl Villafria naman ay sumabak sa 5 events at nagtala ng ika-9 na puwesto sa kanyang unang subok sa Square-1 sa bilis na 18.27, pati na rin Megaminx personal best na 1:14.79 na 10.7% pag-angat mula 1:23.75.

Para sa iba pa nating kababayan, ang pagsabak sa Laguna Speedcubing Open II 2023 ang naging simula ng kanilang karera sa isang WCA competition. Si Michael Bernard A. Santos ay sumabak sa kanyang unang paligsahan sa 5 events, nagtala ng ika-13 puwesto sa Megaminx, at nagrehistro ng mga unang marka sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa 25.48, 2x2x2 Cube sa 4.32, at 4x4x4 Cube sa 59.44. Sa kanyang unang torneo rin, sumalang si Rohan Gadiel D. Lompero sa 4 events, naabot ang ika-16 puwesto sa Square-1 bitbit ang 1:17.41, kasama ang 30.81 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 2:49.04 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Ganoon din si Marquin Daniel C. Calambro na sumali sa 3 events at nagtala ng ika-44 puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa 1:07.08, 17.10 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 6.02 sa 2x2x2 Cube. Hindi nagpahuli si Santino Miguel G. Ariola na sumubok din sa 3 events para makuha ang ika-43 puwesto sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa 1:05.11, 18.19 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 9.28 sa 2x2x2 Cube.

Nagtapos ang buong torneo na nag-iwan ng matitinding numero at magagandang alaala para sa komunidad ng mga speedcubers. Sa dami ng mga bagong rekord at mahuhusay na pagtatapos, napatunayan ng Laguna Speedcubing Open II 2023 ang lalim ng galing ng mga manlalarong Pilipino sa iba't ibang kategorya ng puzzle, habang nagbibigay daan sa marami pang baguhang manlalaro upang ipakita ang kanilang husay sa entablado.