San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025

Inside the San Jose del Monte City Covered Court, the steady clatter of rotating plastic matched the focused rhythm of organizers, delegates, and table judges keeping the day running on schedule. Stations were arranged cleanly across the floor, scramblers worked through trays of puzzles under strict oversight, and runners ferried covers back and forth to keep each round moving seamlessly. In San Jose del Monte, Philippines, the gathering brought together competitors, families, and staff for an intense single-day slate on December 20, 2025.

The smooth operation of the San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025 was a testament to the dedication of the local team, managing eight disciplines and 12 rounds of action for a field of 53 competitors. Running a full WCA competition in a single day requires constant coordination, and the volunteer staff ensured that every athlete had a fair, efficient stage to test their skills in this major speed cubing gathering.

When the spotlight shifted to the main event, the classic Rubik's Cube drew a competitive lineup of 52 entrants across two stages. In the final round of the 3x3 results, Dylan Yosef O. Valenzuela secured first place with a winning average of 7.44 seconds, backed by a best single of 5.63 seconds. Carl Ashley Cortes finished in second place with an 8.14 average, while Nicole Jnus Macalalad took third with an 8.64 mark.

Carl Ashley Cortes rebounded in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event, taking the title with a 13.83 winning average and a single of 13.36 seconds against a field of 31 entrants. Dylan Yosef O. Valenzuela placed second with a 14.15 average, and Ian Guevarra Santos captured third place with 15.91 seconds. Santos had already claimed top honors in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, winning the event with an average of 18.59 seconds and a best single of 18.09 seconds.

The San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025 also delivered tremendous milestones for rising competitors across the arena. Ranlee O. Trinidad achieved a massive 70.6 percent improvement on their 2x2x2 Cube personal best, lowering it to 1.95 seconds, improved their 3x3x3 Cube best to 14.95 seconds by 16.9 percent, and made a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed with 30.89 seconds. Frytsz Jhecxel A. Sobrenilla cut their 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 55.2 percent down to 13.11 seconds, improved their 3x3x3 Cube best to 9.60 seconds, took 15th place in one-handed, and logged a first ever attempt at Skewb in 9.52 seconds. Herne Earl Canapi lowered their 2x2x2 Cube single by 51.1 percent to 4.99 seconds, dropped their 3x3x3 Cube time to 26.76 seconds, and made a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with 6.34 seconds for 20th place. Gabrielle Timothy Dimaculangan Javier tackled six events, lowered their 2x2x2 Cube best by 50.3 percent to 1.97 seconds on the way to an eighth-place finish, and made first ever attempts in Skewb at 12.20 seconds and Megaminx at 2:43.51.

Further down the roster at the San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025, Erzyvyquwane Josh E. Delos Santos entered six events, dropped their Skewb best by 43.4 percent to 3.14 seconds to finish sixth, improved their 3x3x3 One-Handed mark by 35.3 percent to 19.85 seconds, and recorded a first ever attempt at Megaminx in 1:46.60. Dave Andrei Olavidez posted a 17.7 percent drop on 3x3x3 Cube to 10.02 seconds, finished 14th in Pyraminx with a first attempt of 6.76 seconds, and logged a first attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 24.41 seconds. Brandon Kurdt Cruz Dagum improved their 3x3x3 Cube single by 20.6 percent to 16.94 seconds while logging first attempts in Pyraminx with 8.08 seconds and 2x2x2 Cube with 5.14 seconds. Glenan Cris P. Gonzales entered five events, placing ninth in 3x3x3 Blindfolded while logging first attempts in 2x2x2 Cube at 4.24 seconds, 3x3x3 One-Handed at 38.65 seconds, and Megaminx at 4:08.47.

In the short-format puzzles, Yuji Yoshida proved dominant across multiple disciplines, winning the 2x2x2 Cube event with a 2.75 average and a best single of 1.30 seconds over 38 competitors. Dylan Yosef O. Valenzuela followed in second with a 2.88 average, and Nicole Jnus Macalalad took third at 3.06. Yoshida also captured first place in Square-1, recording a winning average of 14.79 seconds and a 11.95 single, finishing ahead of Alexis John S. Abdulsabur with 24.39 and Kenneth Carlos with 25.60.

Kenneth Carlos secured a victory of his own in Skewb, navigating three rounds among 25 competitors to win with a 4.24 average, besting Gabriel Subion at 4.92 and Yuji Yoshida at 5.15. Subion took the Pyraminx crown with a 4.23 average, leading Yoshida at 5.29 and Mahonri Mradz Toledo at 6.15. In the Megaminx event, Nicole Jnus Macalalad earned the win with a 40.24 average across two rounds, ahead of Rusty Louis Domingo at 58.14 and Yoshida at 58.43.

With 24 podium placements claimed by local athletes across all eight events, the speedcubing competition concluded on a high note. The dedication of the tournament staff and organizers made the San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025 an organized success, closing out the competitive year in San Jose del Monte as participants look ahead to future tests on the cubing circuit.

Naging sentro ng matitinding labanan ang 2x2x2 Cube kung saan kakarampot na 0.13 segundo lamang ang naging agwat sa pagitan ng una at ikalawang puwesto. Sa naturang dibisyon, matagumpay na nasungkit ni Yuji Yoshida ang gintong medalya tangan ang winning average na 2.75 at best single na 1.30 laban sa 38 kalahok. Pumangalawa si Dylan Yosef O. Valenzuela na nagtala ng 2.88 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Nicole Jnus Macalalad sa bilis na 3.06. Ang napakaliit na agwat na ito ang nagpatunay sa matinding tensyon at husay ng mga manlalaro sa buong paligsahan.

Ginanap noong December 20, 2025 sa San Jose del Monte City Covered Court sa San Jose del Monte, Philippines ang San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025. Umabot sa 53 competitors ang nagtagisan ng galing sa walong magkakaibang events na binubuo ng 12 rounds. Ang buong torneo ay nagpakita ng mataas na antas ng husay sa bansa, kung saan nakuha ng Pilipinas ang lahat ng 24 na posisyon sa podium sa opisyal na talaan ng World Cube Association.

Sa pangunahing dibisyon ng tradisyunal na 3x3x3 Cube o Rubik's Cube, nanguna si Dylan Yosef O. Valenzuela laban sa 52 competitors matapos magtala ng winning average na 7.44 at best single na 5.63 sa pagtatapos ng dalawang rounds. Sumunod sa kaniya si Carl Ashley Cortes na pumangalawa sa bilis na 8.14, at pumangatlo si Nicole Jnus Macalalad na may 8.64. Ipinamalas ni Valenzuela ang kaniyang tatag sa bilis at konsistensi upang pangunahan ang pinakamalaking dibisyon sa paligsahan.

Hindi rin nagpahuli ang iba pang mga kategorya sa San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025. Sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, naghari si Carl Ashley Cortes na nagtala ng 13.83 winning average at 13.36 best single, habang pumangalawa si Dylan Yosef O. Valenzuela sa 14.15 at pumangatlo si Ian Guevarra Santos sa 15.91. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded naman na sumusubok sa memorya ng mga kalahok, nanguna si Ian Guevarra Santos matapos magrehistro ng pambihirang 18.59 winning average at 18.09 best single, kasunod sina Miguel Iñigo O. Valenzuela na may 42.45 at Luis Gabriel Magadia na may 50.84.

Sa Megaminx, dinomina ni Nicole Jnus Macalalad ang laban nang magtala ng 40.24 winning average at 37.60 best single sa dalawang rounds, habang pumangalawa si Rusty Louis Domingo sa 58.14 at pumangatlo si Yuji Yoshida sa 58.43. Nagwagi naman si Gabriel Subion sa Pyraminx tangan ang 4.23 winning average at 2.62 best single, dinaig sina Yuji Yoshida na may 5.29 at Mahonri Mradz Toledo na may 6.15. Sa Skewb, nagtagumpay si Kenneth Carlos na may 4.24 winning average sa tatlong rounds, sinundan nina Gabriel Subion na may 4.92 at Yuji Yoshida na may 5.15. Nasungkit din ni Yuji Yoshida ang tagumpay sa Square-1 sa bilis na 14.79 kasunod sina Alexis John S. Abdulsabur na may 24.39 at Kenneth Carlos na may 25.60.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, kapansin-pansin ang ipinakitang determinasyon ng mga sumabak sa iba-ibang kategorya sa cubing competition na ito. Ibinuhos ni James Austin Villar ang kaniyang lakas sa apat na events kung saan naitala niya ang 9.48 sa Pyraminx, na 69.9 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kaniyang dating personal best. Nagpakitang-gilas din si Nathaniel F. Hernandez sa limang events na kaniyang sinalihan, na nagtala ng 4.67 sa Skewb na 62.1 porsyentong mas mabilis, 2.36 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 37.2 porsyentong pagbuti, at 31.19 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed. Si Zachary Brayden A. Montero ay nagtala ng 1.96 sa 2x2x2 Cube na 54 porsyentong mas mabilis at 9.17 sa 3x3x3 Cube, habang si Areej P. Elsayed Ibrahim ay gumawa ng 15.76 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 30.5 porsyentong mas mabilis at nagtala ng 10.54 sa kaniyang unang sabak sa Pyraminx.

Naging espesyal din ang paligsahan para sa mga sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition. Si Ivan Josh Serioso ay lumahok sa apat na events at nagtala ng 12.18 sa Pyraminx, 5.64 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 17.98 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Sumabak naman si Akio Malchiel De Guzman sa tatlong dibisyon at nakapagtala ng 9.55 sa Pyraminx, 17.78 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 1:13.76 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed. Lumaban din si Ar-jay Monteras sa tatlong events kung saan nagtala siya ng 6.13 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 14.66 sa Pyraminx, at 18.29 sa 3x3x3 Cube. Samantala, si Chris Anthony Manabat ay nagrehistro ng 11.17 sa Pyraminx at 23.26 sa 3x3x3 Cube sa kaniyang unang pagsabak sa dalawang events sa San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025.

Naging matagumpay ang pagtatapos ng buong torneo na nagpakita ng patuloy na pag-unlad ng komunidad ng speedcubing sa bansa ngayong taong 2025. Mula sa mga beteranong umangkin ng mga medalya hanggang sa mga baguhang manlalaro na nagtala ng kani-kanilang mga personal na pinakamagagandang marka, ang kaganapang ito sa San Jose del Monte Speedcubing Open III 2025 ay nag-iwan ng magagandang alaala at panibagong inspirasyon para sa mga susunod pang laban sa susunod na season.