Laguna Speedcubing Open IV 2024

Inside Robinsons Sta. Rosa, the tables were set for a fast-paced day of twisting plastic and ticking stackmats. A bustling crowd of puzzle enthusiasts gathered in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines on May 5, 2024, eager to test their skills against the timer. With 57 competitors registered across six distinct events, the Laguna Speedcubing Open IV 2024 brought together a dynamic mix of seasoned tournament regulars and an influx of energetic newcomers taking to the competition floor for the very first time.

The presence of so many emerging solvers gave this WCA competition a distinct atmosphere of discovery. Speed cubing in the region continues to draw fresh faces who are ready to make their official marks across ten packed rounds of action. For dozens of participants, stepping up to the judging stations represented a major milestone in their journey, bringing new energy to the classic Rubik's Cube events and side puzzles alike on this single-day speedcubing showcase.

At the top of the standings, Brenton Angelo Lo Wong delivered a commanding performance in the main event. In a competitive field of 56 participants battling through three rounds, Wong secured victory in the 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 6.98 seconds and a best single of 6.40. The 3x3 results saw Aragon Martin Gonzales take second place with a 7.87 average, while Mark Luigi Huyaban rounded out the podium in third at 9.10 seconds.

Wong extended his winning form into the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, leading a 30-player roster with a decisive 12.62 average and a fast 11.89 single. Gonzales again claimed the runner-up spot with an average of 13.44 seconds, followed once more by Huyaban in third place with a 14.74 mark. The consistency between Wong, Gonzales, and Huyaban in both traditional and single-handed solving highlighted the high caliber of technical skill present throughout the tournament.

Gonzales enjoyed his own moments at the very top of the podium, capturing titles in two rapid-fire events. In the 2x2x2 Cube, he posted a winning average of 2.08 seconds alongside a rapid 1.71 single across a 46-person field. He followed that triumph by claiming first place in Pyraminx, outpacing 41 competitors with a 3.40 average and a 2.72 single. Across both events, Wong and Yuji Yoshida joined Gonzales on the podium, showing incredible versatility across different puzzle formats.

Behind the top podium steps, the heart of the tournament belonged to solvers achieving personal milestones and trying events for the first time. Thomas Jacob Aldaba took on five events, earning a 5th place finish in Pyraminx while dropping his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best down to 14.53, an improvement of 63.9 percent over his previous 40.22 mark, alongside a Clock best of 9.84 and a 3x3x3 Cube best of 8.69. Jonas Elijah Velasquez improved across three disciplines, cutting his Clock time by 39.8 percent to 12.16, his Skewb mark by 21.3 percent to 9.86, and his Pyraminx time to 7.85. Jhazmine Lacsamana tackled five disciplines, recording a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.40, improving by 25.4 percent, while notching a 9.20 personal best in 3x3x3 Cube and making a first ever attempt at Skewb with a 7.85 single.

The surge of new event debuts continued across the scorecards. Rachel Tatad entered five events, recording a 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best of 58.35, which was 34.4 percent faster than her prior mark, while attempting Pyraminx for the first time with an 11.67 and Skewb with an 11.31. Brent Miguelle Loyola took on five events, completing a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 54.47, a first Skewb solve of 10.91, and a first Pyraminx result of 10.85. Liam Lucas G. Santos made his first ever attempts at 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 39.74 and 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.67, while dropping his 3x3x3 Cube best by 7.9 percent to 19.35. Ikoi Yamaki entered four events, posting a 2x2x2 Cube best of 4.53, a 12 percent drop, while making first attempts at Skewb in 11.35 and Pyraminx in 7.17. Rohan Gadiel D. Lompero logged a 3x3x3 Cube best of 29.96 and registered first attempts at Clock with a 23.78 and Pyraminx with a 13.65.

The rotational puzzles provided further drama as Karl Abarquez delivered two outstanding victories. Abarquez took first place in Skewb with a 3.54 average and a 3.40 single, finishing ahead of Ivan Keith Cariaga at 3.94 and Yoshida at 5.88. Abarquez then returned to secure the Clock title, recording a 5.41 average and a 4.59 single to defeat Zian Principe, who took second with 5.96, and Yoshida, who claimed another third-place finish with a 6.04 average.

All 18 podium positions at the Laguna Speedcubing Open IV 2024 were captured by solvers representing the Philippines, highlighting the depth of talent within the local community. From the veteran champions locking down sub-seven averages to the dozens of participants marking their first official times in new categories, the day proved to be an inspiring showcase of growth and camaraderie. As competitors packed up their puzzles, the memorable solves at the Laguna Speedcubing Open IV 2024 set an encouraging foundation for the next chapter of regional competition.

Limampu't pitong kalahok ang nagtipon sa Robinsons Sta. Rosa para sa Laguna Speedcubing Open IV 2024 noong Mayo 5, 2024. Isang araw lamang ang kailangan upang maipakita ang husay ng komunidad sa City of Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines, kung saan sumabak ang mga manlalaro sa anim na opisyal na kategorya. Sa kabuuan ng sampung rounds, naging kapansin-pansin ang pagdagsa ng mga bagong mukha sa entablado ng speedcubing. Ang sigla ng paligsahan ay patunay sa patuloy na paglago ng larong ito sa rehiyon.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube, naghari si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong matapos magtala ng winning average na 6.98 sa finals laban sa limampu't anim na katunggali. Naitala rin niya ang pinakamabilis na single time sa event na 6.40 sa loob ng tatlong rounds ng labanan. Pumangalawa sa podium si Aragon Martin Gonzales na may average na 7.87, habang pumangatlo naman si Mark Luigi Huyaban na nagtala ng average na 9.10 upang kumpletuhin ang mga nagwagi sa tradisyonal na Rubik's Cube.

Hindi nagpahuli si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa kategoryang 3x3x3 One-Handed matapos masungkit ang isa pang unang puwesto. Nagrehistro siya ng winning average na 12.62 at winning single na 11.89 sa event na nilahukan ng tatlumpung kalahok. Sumunod sa kaniya sa podium si Aragon Martin Gonzales na nagtala ng average na 13.44, samantalang nakuha muli ni Mark Luigi Huyaban ang ikatlong puwesto sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang 14.74 average.

Nagpakitang-gilas naman si Aragon Martin Gonzales sa dalawang iba pang larangan matapos magwagi sa 2x2x2 Cube at Pyraminx. Sa 2x2x2 Cube na may apatnapu't anim na kalahok, nagtala si Aragon Martin Gonzales ng winning average na 2.08 at winning single na 1.71. Sinundan siya nina Yuji Yoshida na may 2.62 average at Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 2.66 average. Sa Pyraminx naman, nakuha ni Aragon Martin Gonzales ang tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng 3.40 average at 2.72 single, habang pumangalawa si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 4.57 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa 4.72.

Doble rin ang naging tagumpay ni Karl Abarquez sa naturang cubing competition matapos manguna sa Skewb at Clock. Sa Skewb, nagwagi siya laban sa tatlumpu't isang katunggali bitbit ang winning average na 3.54 at single na 3.40, habang pumangalawa si Ivan Keith Cariaga na may 3.94 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida na may 5.88. Sa Clock naman, naungusan ni Karl Abarquez ang dalawampu't limang kalahok gamit ang winning average na 5.41 at single na 4.59, kasunod sina Zian Principe na may 5.96 average at Yuji Yoshida na may 6.04 average.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, marami ring manlalaro ang nagtala ng pambihirang mga personal na rekord. Pinangunahan ito ni Zhian Anthony S. Chen na nagbawas ng 34.6 porsyento sa kaniyang bilis sa 2x2x2 Cube matapos magtala ng personal best na 2.04 mula sa dating 3.12, habang lumahok siya sa apat na kategorya na may 23rd place sa Pyraminx. Si Miguel Nathaniel Tambo naman ay nagtala ng 28 porsyentong bilis sa 2x2x2 Cube sa kaniyang 5.34 personal best bukod sa 20.73 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Si Pocholo Comanda ay sumabak sa anim na kategorya at nagtala ng mga personal best sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 36.51 na 26.9 porsyentong mas mabilis, Clock na 8.59 na 18.9 porsyentong mas mabilis, at Pyraminx na 6.82 na 4.6 porsyentong mas mabilis. Samantala, si Ryan Balendez ay lumahok sa apat na events, nagtala ng 2.50 personal best sa 2x2x2 Cube para sa ika-siyam na puwesto, at sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa Pyraminx kung saan nagrehistro siya ng 8.26.

Naging napakaespesyal din ng paligsahan para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si Joshua B. Elca ay lumahok sa apat na events sa kaniyang debut, kung saan gumawa siya ng unang subok sa Skewb na may 8.11, 2x2x2 Cube na may 2.52, at Pyraminx na may 6.53 na nagdala sa kaniya sa ika-labing-apat na puwesto. Si Meekus Renzo S. Asuncion ay sumalang din sa apat na kategorya sa kaniyang debut at nagtala ng unang opisyal na resulta sa 3x3x3 Cube na 34.00, 2x2x2 Cube na 11.12, at Skewb na 24.28, kalakip ang ika-dalawampu't anim na puwesto sa Pyraminx. Gayundin, lumaban si Yuan Clarence M. De Roxas sa apat na larangan kabilang ang unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 1:14.85, 3x3x3 Cube na 25.07, at Pyraminx na 13.43, habang si Yuna Clarisse M. De Roxas ay sumabak sa tatlong kategorya na may debut marks sa 2x2x2 Cube na 5.16, 3x3x3 Cube na 26.39, at 3x3x3 One-Handed na 1:24.23.

Ang Laguna Speedcubing Open IV 2024 ay nagpatunay muli ng lalim ng talento sa bansa kung saan lahat ng labing-walong podium spots ay napunta sa mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas. Mula sa mga beteranong kampeon hanggang sa mga baguhang sumabak sa unang pagkakataon, naging entablado ang Robinsons Sta. Rosa ng determinasyon at bilis. Sa pagtatapos ng torneo sa Santa Rosa, baon ng bawat isa ang mga bagong aral at personal na tagumpay patungo sa susunod na yugto ng palakasan.