Laguna Speedcubing Open V 2024

Inside Robinsons Galleria South, the bustling retail floor faded into the background as puzzle timers beeped and plastic hardware spun across competition tables. San Pedro City, Laguna, Philippines welcomed a field of 79 competitors on July 14, 2024, for an action-packed day of classic Rubik's Cube solving and diverse puzzle variants. The high-energy environment tested both composure and tactical execution as participants raced against the clock.

The competitive schedule for Laguna Speedcubing Open V 2024 carried a distinct intensity dictated by its structure. Across eight events, the schedule featured nine total rounds, meaning seven of the disciplines operated under straight-final, single-round conditions. Without second chances or preliminary feeling-out stages, contenders had to produce peak performances immediately, while the sole multi-round discipline provided a steady progression toward a dramatic finish.

That lone multi-round event was the 3x3x3 Cube, featuring 78 competitors across two stages. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong mastered the setup completely, leading the field with a dominant winning average of 7.02 and a best single time of 6.01. The final 3x3 results locked in with Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes taking second place at 9.42, narrowly edging out Javier Ignacio, who finished in third place with a 9.45 average.

The relentless single-round format elsewhere rewarded decisive consistency, and Brenton Angelo Lo Wong capitalized fully across multiple categories. In 2x2x2 Cube, he seized victory among 73 entrants with an average of 1.93, backed by an event-best 1.18 single, while Yuji Yoshida placed second at 2.60 and Javier Ignacio took third at 2.80. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong also topped 3x3x3 One-Handed with a 12.64 average and won the 5x5x5 Cube in 58.41, finishing as the only competitor under a minute.

The non-twisty and specialized puzzles presented equally intense battles under the single-round structure. Andres Taipe of Peru secured first place in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 49.09 single, ahead of Jacob Miko Tan at 56.42 and Brenton Angelo Lo Wong at 1:15.38. Zoei Principe captured the Clock title with a 4.50 average, followed by Elijah Francis Jagonio at 5.24. In Megaminx, Karl Martin Montealto claimed top honors in 50.33, while Javier Ignacio won Skewb with a 4.31 average.

Beyond the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Luis Alfredo A. De Torres completed three events, setting a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 4.24 that was 56.9 percent faster than his prior mark, logging a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 22.88, and recording a first ever attempt in Clock of 19.59. Ricardo Manuel P. Alair III trimmed 45.8 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube best with a 1.68 mark, lowered his 3x3x3 Cube best to 11.55, and logged his first attempt in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 38.20. Ethan Antonius Gersan achieved a 33.3 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Cube with a 24.76 personal best, alongside first attempts in 3x3x3 One-Handed at 1:34.49 and Megaminx at 3:12.99. Joaquin Maximo C. Daquigan cut his 3x3x3 Cube best by 28.7 percent to 15.58 and recorded initial marks of 6.81 in 2x2x2 Cube and 29.90 in 3x3x3 One-Handed.

Other dedicated solvers embraced massive event loads and fresh territory throughout the busy weekend. Joshua B. Elca took on all eight events at the competition, earning a seventh-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded while posting first ever attempts in 3x3x3 Blindfolded at 4:09.79, 5x5x5 Cube at 2:57.17, and Megaminx at 2:25.69. Edwin D. Montenegro Jr. contested seven disciplines, finishing eighth in Megaminx while recording debut attempts of 1:08.40 in Megaminx and 25.79 in 3x3x3 One-Handed, alongside a 4.03 2x2x2 Cube personal best. Jethro Marcelo placed fourth in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a debut 1:58.18 single, posted his first 2x2x2 Cube mark of 3.64, and improved his 5x5x5 Cube best by 22.6 percent to 2:10.19. Kiefer Hernandez placed ninth in 3x3x3 Cube while delivering first ever attempts in 2x2x2 Cube at 3.23, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 21.99, and 5x5x5 Cube at 2:16.64.

International representation added depth to the leaderboard, with competitors from Peru and Taiwan joining the Philippine contingent on the podiums. Andres Taipe added a third-place Skewb finish to his blindfolded victory, while Rui-Jun Liu placed second in 5x5x5 Cube with a 1:04.48 average. The sharp cutoffs and single-stage formats throughout the schedule demanded complete focus across every discipline, leaving no margin for errors on the speed cubing stage.

As the final scores were tabulated by the World Cube Association, Laguna Speedcubing Open V 2024 concluded having demonstrated the breadth and technical skill of the regional community. With 21 podium positions earned by domestic contenders, this cubing competition highlighted both seasoned excellence and substantial individual progress. The successful WCA competition in San Pedro City sets an exciting benchmark for local speedcubing talent preparing for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Sa gitna ng napakatinding kompetisyon at malalim na hanay ng mga kalahok, nagtala si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ng dominanteng panalo sa pamamagitan ng apat na gintong medalya sa Robinsons Galleria South sa San Pedro City, Laguna, Philippines. Naging sentro ng aksyon ang Laguna Speedcubing Open V 2024 noong July 14, 2024 kung saan nagtipon ang 79 na kalahok para maglaban-laban sa walong magkakaibang kaganapan at siyam na rounds. Sa bawat kategorya, naging napakahirap para sa lahat ang makatapak sa podium dahil sa dami at husay ng mga sumali.

Pinatunayan ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kanyang galing sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube matapos magtala ng winning average na 7.02 at pinakamabilis na single na 6.01 mula sa 78 competitors sa dalawang rounds. Sumunod sa kanya sa podium sina Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes na nagtala ng 9.42 average para sa ikalawang puwesto at Javier Ignacio na may 9.45 average para sa ikatlong puwesto. Hindi naging madali ang daan patungo sa final round ng tradisyunal na Rubik's Cube dahil sa higpit ng labanan mula sa pinakamalalaking pangalan sa bansa.

Ipinagpatuloy ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kanyang pananalasa sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan nanguna siya sa 73 kalahok hawak ang winning average na 1.93 at winning single na 1.18. Nakuha ni Yuji Yoshida ang ikalawang puwesto sa bilis na 2.60 average habang pumangatlo si Javier Ignacio sa 2.80 average. Nasungkit din ni Wong ang kampeonato sa 3x3x3 One-Handed sa average na 12.64 laban sa 47 kalahok, kung saan pumangalawa si Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes sa 15.70 at pumangatlo si Javier Ignacio sa 17.13.

Sa mas malalaking kategorya ng naturang cubing competition, pinatunayan muli ni Brenton Angelo Lo Wong ang kanyang dominasyon nang magwagi sa 5x5x5 Cube na may 58.41 winning average laban sa 30 katunggali. Pumangalawa si Rui-Jun Liu mula sa Taiwan na nagrehistro ng 1:04.48 habang si Yuji Yoshida ang kumuha ng ikatlong puwesto sa 1:06.00. Sa pangkalahatan ng mga podium finishes sa torneo, 21 ang napunta sa Pilipinas, dalawa sa Peru, at isa sa Taiwan.

Sa iba pang kaganapan sa Laguna Speedcubing Open V 2024, nagpakitang-gilas si Zoei Principe sa Clock matapos magkampeon sa 4.50 winning average laban sa 29 na kalahok, kasunod sina Elijah Francis Jagonio na may 5.24 at Zian Principe na may 5.65. Nagwagi naman si Javier Ignacio sa Skewb sa bilis na 4.31 average kontra sa 29 competitors, habang pumangalawa si Niño Francis S. Reyes sa 5.20 at pumangatlo si Andres Taipe ng Peru sa 5.73. Sa Megaminx, nanguna si Karl Martin Montealto sa 50.33 winning average, dinaig si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng 51.16 at Jacob Miko Tan na may 57.38.

Sa larangan ng 3x3x3 Blindfolded, kung saan kailangan ang matinding memorya at konsentrasyon bago simulan ang pagpisa ng puzzle nang nakapiring, nagwagi si Andres Taipe mula sa Peru sa pamamagitan ng winning single na 49.09 mula sa 10 kalahok. Nakuha ni Jacob Miko Tan ang ikalawang puwesto sa oras na 56.42 habang pumangatlo si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong sa 1:15.38. Nagbigay ang dibisyong ito ng kakaibang hamon na sumubok sa lalim ng kakayahan ng mga kalahok.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, kapansin-pansin din ang mga pambihirang pagsisikap mula sa iba pang kalahok. Si Bricx Azry L. Duran ay sumabak sa dalawang events at nagtala ng 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 6.00 na 66.3 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating tala, habang nagtala si John Christian Timothy D. Rasay ng 2x2x2 Cube personal best na 1.62 na 61.1 porsyentong mas mabilis sa apat na kaganapang sinalihan. Si Ceindreck Wayne Tamayo ay sumali sa limang events at nagtala ng Skewb personal best na 6.06 na 43.8 porsyentong mas mabilis at ikaanim na puwesto, habang si Brent Miguelle Loyola ay sumubok sa Clock sa unang pagkakataon na may 16.53 at nagtala ng 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 31.96 na 27 porsyentong mas mabilis.

Naging entablado rin ang torneo para sa mga bagong manlalaro na sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si Dannaea Astasha Budiao Ariola ay lumahok sa limang events kung saan nagtala siya ng 22.64 sa kanyang unang pagsubok sa 3x3x3 Cube, 2:45.14 sa 5x5x5 Cube, at 3:12.59 sa Megaminx para sa ika-16 na puwesto. Si Mathieu Ramis Balauat ay sumabak sa apat na events na may unang pagsubok sa 2x2x2 Cube na 7.61, Clock na 25.23, at 3x3x3 Cube na 25.40. Samantala, si Miguel Gerard O. Agustin ay sumali sa tatlong events na may unang subok sa 3x3x3 Cube na 34.56 at 5x5x5 Cube na 4:17.00, habang si Ashton Marcus Año ay nagtapos sa ika-19 na puwesto sa 5x5x5 Cube sa kanyang unang subok na 2:02.95 kasabay ng 15.19 sa 3x3x3 Cube.

Ang naganap na speedcubing showcase sa taong 2024 ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay ng mga Pilipinong manlalaro sa bawat round ng paligsahan. Sa pagtatapos ng Laguna Speedcubing Open V 2024, malinaw na ang lalim at dami ng mga kalahok ay patuloy na nagtutulak sa pamantayan ng bawat kaganapan pataas, na nag-iiwan ng matitinding tala at magagandang alaala sa San Pedro City.