San Jose del Monte Cube Open II 2024

97 competitors gathered under the lights of SM City San Jose del Monte on June 1, 2024, for a packed day of top-tier speedcubing. The atmosphere was charged from the opening heats as local standout Brenton Angelo Lo Wong delivered an extraordinary display on home soil in San Jose del Monte City, Philippines. Taking on seven distinct events across ten intense rounds, cubers from across the country converged for this premier WCA competition to test their dexterity and problem-solving speed in front of a supportive local crowd.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a massive field of 94 competitors across two rounds of high-stakes play. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong led the charge in front of his home fans, claiming victory with a dazzling winning average of 5.92 seconds after posting a blistering single solve of 5.58 seconds. Sean Patrick Villanueva secured second place with an average of 6.52, while Maverick Sua rounded out the podium in third at 7.44. These stellar 3x3 results capped a thrilling showcase of classic Rubik's Cube solving.

Brenton Angelo Lo Wong doubled his gold tally in the 4x4x4 Cube, pacing the 47-player field with a winning average of 28.85 seconds and a tournament-best single of 24.60 seconds. Maverick Sua earned the runner-up position with an average of 30.59 seconds, while Mark Aeron Santos took third place at 32.08 seconds. Lo Wong also demonstrated his remarkable versatility across different disciplines, finishing third in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an 11.57 average and securing third in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a time of 1:25.79.

In the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, Sean Patrick Villanueva took top honors, winning the single-round contest of 54 competitors with a swift 8.69 average and a best single of 7.29 seconds. Maverick Sua claimed silver with an 11.47 average, just ahead of Lo Wong. The 2x2x2 Cube competition saw intense action among 73 entrants, where Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes took first place with a 2.57 winning average and a 2.22 single, edging Bearwin Jairus Jovellanos Cruz at 2.61 and Karl Matthew Angeles at 3.24.

The single-day schedule at San Jose del Monte Cube Open II 2024 also highlighted the deeper roster of competitors making significant personal breakthroughs. Jenzhel Raine T. Bacolod tackled four events, registering a first ever attempt at Clock in 26.53, a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:16.32, and dropping their 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 5.28, which was 41.3 percent faster than before. Axel Kurt G. Pinano logged a first ever attempt at Skewb in 10.39, a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 5.45, and set a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 23.83 that was 35.1 percent faster. Miguel Iñigo O. Valenzuela entered five events and earned a sixth-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 3.94, a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded in 1:50.06, and a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 20.49. Francine Rovie F. Retanan posted a first ever attempt at Clock in 19.77, a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:12.78, and a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 11.87, improving by 27 percent.

Progress continued across the board for athletes gaining valuable stage experience. Nathan Zeke T. Hinampas took on three events, recording a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube in 5.62, a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 40.81, and a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 18.18, which was 22.6 percent faster. Sigfreud James Malacca entered five disciplines, delivering a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 49.33, a Skewb personal best of 10.19 that was 15.2 percent faster, and a 4x4x4 Cube personal best of 1:16.79, an improvement of 37.2 percent. Erzyvyquwane Josh E. Delos Santos contested five events, making a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 30.67 while earning personal bests of 5.55 in Skewb, 29.7 percent faster, and 1:02.92 in 4x4x4 Cube. Matthew Gacusan recorded a first ever attempt at Clock in 15.68 alongside personal bests of 11.33 in 3x3x3 Cube, 19 percent faster, and 3.68 in 2x2x2 Cube, 12 percent faster.

Specialist puzzles brought additional excitement to the floor. The Skewb tournament featured 34 competitors across two rounds, where Ivan Keith Cariaga captured gold with a 3.98 average and a single of 2.51, besting Kenneth Carlos at 4.47 and Ryu Riggs Pua Tan at 4.80. In Clock, Dimetri De La Rea led a 31-person field over two rounds, winning with a 4.83 average and 4.51 single, while Zian Principe and Zoei Principe secured second and third with averages of 5.60 and 5.66 respectively.

Mental discipline was on full display in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, which requires meticulous memorisation before solving without sight. Ian Guevarra Santos secured victory among 10 competitors with an average of 23.41 seconds and a fast single of 18.18 seconds, finishing ahead of Luis Gabriel Magadia at 1:13.74 and Lo Wong at 1:25.79. With all 21 podium positions swept by athletes representing the Philippines, the tournament proved to be a vibrant display of speed cubing excellence.

As the final timers were cleared, San Jose del Monte Cube Open II 2024 stood as a resounding success for the local community and the national scene alike. Every entrant contributed to the electric energy that defined the cubing competition, setting a high benchmark for future tournaments.

Puno ng sigla at tunog ng umiikot na mga mekanikal na laruan ang SM City San Jose del Monte sa pagtitipon ng mga kalahok. Sa loob ng bulwagan, naghanda ang mga manlalaro mula sa ibat ibang dako upang subukin ang kanilang bilis sa harap ng mga opisyal na timer. Ang torneo ay nagbigay-daan sa pagpapakita ng husay sa bawat kategorya mula sa maliliit na cube hanggang sa mga kakaibang hugis. Sa isang buong araw ng matinding labanan noong June 1, 2024, ipinamalas ng bawat kalahok ang dedikasyon sa larangan ng speedcubing sa San Jose del Monte City, Philippines.

Naging sentro ng aksyon ang San Jose del Monte Cube Open II 2024 kung saan 97 na kalahok ang nagtagisan sa pitong magkakaibang uri ng kaganapan na binubuo ng 10 rounds. Ipinakita sa paligsahan ang malawak na saklaw ng mga disiplina, kabilang ang tradisyonal na 3x3x3 Cube, ang mabilisang 2x2x2 Cube, ang masalimuot na 4x4x4 Cube, at maging ang mga natatanging hamon tulad ng Skewb, Clock, at 3x3x3 Blindfolded. Ang ganitong lawak ng mga pagsubok ay sumubok sa ibat ibang aspeto ng memorya, koordinasyon ng kamay, at visual na pag-aanalisa ng bawat kalahok.

Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube na nilahukan ng 94 na kalahok sa loob ng dalawang round, nangibabaw si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong matapos magtala ng winning average na 5.92 at best single na 5.58. Pumangalawa si Sean Patrick Villanueva na may average na 6.52 habang pumangatlo naman si Maverick Sua na nagrehistro ng 7.44. Hindi lamang doon nagtapos ang tagumpay ni Wong dahil nasungkit din niya ang unang puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube laban sa 47 kalahok gamit ang 28.85 average at 24.60 best single, kung saan sumunod sina Maverick Sua sa 30.59 at Mark Aeron Santos sa 32.08.

Nagpakitang-gilas din ang iba pang kampeon sa mga espesyal na kategorya sa San Jose del Monte Cube Open II 2024. Sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, tinalo ni Sean Patrick Villanueva ang 54 na katunggali sa pamamagitan ng 8.69 average at 7.29 best single, habang sumunod sina Maverick Sua na may 11.47 at Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 11.57. Sa larangan naman ng 3x3x3 Blindfolded na nangangailangan ng masusing memorisasyon bago takpan ang mata, nagwagi si Ian Guevarra Santos sa 10 kalahok bitbit ang 23.41 average at 18.18 best single laban kina Luis Gabriel Magadia na may 1:13.74 at Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 1:25.79.

Sa mas mabilisang mga puzzle, pinangunahan ni Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes ang 73 kalahok sa 2x2x2 Cube sa kanyang winning average na 2.57 at best single na 2.22, kasunod sina Bearwin Jairus Jovellanos Cruz na may 2.61 at Karl Matthew Angeles na may 3.24. Sa Skewb na may 34 kalahok at dalawang round, naghari si Ivan Keith Cariaga sa pamamagitan ng 3.98 average at 2.51 single laban kina Kenneth Carlos na may 4.47 at Ryu Riggs Pua Tan na may 4.80. Samantala, pinamunuan ni Dimetri De La Rea ang 31 kalahok sa Clock gamit ang 4.83 average at 4.51 single, habang pumangalawa si Zian Principe sa 5.60 at pumangatlo si Zoei Principe sa 5.66.

Sa likod ng mga nangungunang puwesto sa cubing competition, maraming kalahok ang nagtala ng mahahalagang personal na tagumpay sa kani-kanilang mga laban. Si Ahmad Mendoza na lumahok sa tatlong kaganapan ay nagtala ng 24.98 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 33.2 porsyento na mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating 37.38, bukod sa 11.85 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube na 28.1 porsyentong bilis mula 16.48. Si Alvarez Edel mula sa Macau ay sumabak sa anim na kaganapan at nagtala ng 7.16 sa Clock na 29.7 porsyentong mas mabilis sa dating 10.18, 13.83 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed mula 15.51, at 8.51 sa 3x3x3 Cube mula 8.81. Si Limuel Concepcion naman ay sumubok sa unang pagkakataon sa Skewb sa oras na 13.33, habang nagtala ng 28.71 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed mula 34.51 at 5.24 sa 2x2x2 Cube mula 5.44. Si Joshua Benedict Dumalag ay nagtala ng unang subok sa 4x4x4 Cube na 1:08.23 at 15.74 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube mula sa dating 17.08.

Naging entablado rin ang paligsahan para sa mga bagong mukha na sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition ngayong taon. Si Ghirand Jocson De Lemos ay nagrehistro ng kanyang mga unang subok sa apat na kaganapan kabilang ang 11.21 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 5.10 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 1:06.46 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Si King Eljohn M. Galicia ay nagtala ng mga unang marka na 7.36 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 21.53 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 20.55 sa Skewb. Gayundin si Schmuel Tovi B. Dumalag na sumubok sa Clock sa oras na 35.78, 2x2x2 Cube sa 7.97, at Skewb sa 18.12. Samantala, si Prince Kristoff M. Pizon ay nagsumite ng kanyang mga unang opisyal na resulta sa 3x3x3 Cube na 16.58, Skewb na 14.27, at 3x3x3 One-Handed na 38.61.

Ang kabuuang 21 podium places ay nasungkit lahat ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas na nagpatunay sa lalim ng talento sa bansa para sa Rubiks Cube at iba pang kauri nito. Ang pagtatapos ng San Jose del Monte Cube Open II 2024 sa taong 2024 ay nag-iwan ng magandang alaala ng pagkakaisa at determinasyon para sa lahat ng mga nakiisa sa paligsahan, mula sa mga batikan hanggang sa mga baguhang manlalaro na naghahanda na para sa susunod na yugto ng kanilang mga karera.