SM Manila Speedcubing Warm-Up 2025

Leo Borromeo captured the spotlight at SM Manila Speedcubing Warm-Up 2025 by delivering a blistering 5.92 winning average in the final round of the classic 3x3x3 Cube. The victory came down to fractions of a second in a crowded field of sixty-six competitors, with Borromeo also registering a 4.73 best single on the day. That razor-thin margin set the tone for a full program of seven events at SM City Manila, where sixty-seven competitors gathered on June 14, 2025, for an intense day of Rubik's Cube action.

The one-day WCA competition in the City of Manila, Philippines, served as an essential proving ground for emerging talent as well as seasoned veterans. Across twelve total rounds of play, the tournament brought the excitement of speedcubing to the bustling venue, testing solvers across multiple formats from traditional two-handed solving to complex blindfolded disciplines. Fans following the 3x3 results witnessed a showcase of domestic talent, with all twenty-one podium placements claimed by solvers from the host nation.

Stepping into a major cubing competition for the first time or expanding into unfamiliar categories creates its own distinctive rhythm behind the competition tables. For many stepping up to the timer, the day was defined by major milestones and massive drops in personal records. Kenshin Rodriguez sliced 49.3 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by clocking 25.34, compared to an earlier best of 49.98. Azariah Danielle E. Cruz tackled four events and achieved an eighth-place finish in Clock alongside a 40.3 percent improvement on 4x4x4 Cube with a 47.56 mark, plus personal records in Clock at 6.98 and 3x3x3 Cube at 10.32. Berna Grace Tonido logged a 19.71 single in 3x3x3 Cube, an improvement of 38.3 percent, while also completing a first ever attempt at 3x3x3 One-Handed in 50.69. Brian Maxwell S. Ang took on his first official 3x3x3 One-Handed attempt with a 1:31.58 while taking 22.5 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube mark to reach 21.48.

That same drive was evident across multiple categories as solvers expanded their competitive ranges. Caleb John Tamis logged a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube with a time of 1:45.53, paired with a 29.6 percent drop in his 3x3x3 One-Handed best to 24.07 and a 15.01 personal record on 3x3x3 Cube. Neo Vittorio Dalacat took on four events, securing a 13.2 percent improvement on 3x3x3 Cube with a 10.34 single alongside first ever attempts in both Clock at 41.90 and 4x4x4 Cube at 48.97. MJ Migs Navarro recorded a first official 4x4x4 Cube result of 1:03.72, took 13.7 percent off his 3x3x3 One-Handed best with a 33.74, and logged an 11.36 in 3x3x3 Cube. Meanwhile, Rane Yuan A. Dipon branched out across three events, logging official first attempts in 4x4x4 Cube at 1:10.63 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 28.36.

Beyond the individual breakthroughs, the championship battles at SM Manila Speedcubing Warm-Up 2025 delivered top-tier drama throughout the bracket. Borromeo secured a double victory by dominating the 4x4x4 Cube event, posting a 24.23 winning average and the best single of the category at 22.24. Brenton Angelo Lo Wong claimed the silver medal on 4x4x4 with a 26.54 average, while Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc earned bronze with 29.49 before making his own run in other puzzle disciplines.

The 3x3x3 Cube final was an equally tense affair where Borromeo was pushed to the limit by Toby Litiatco, who finished runner-up with an average of 5.99. Lo Wong earned his second podium spot of the day by securing third place with a 6.48 average. The close margins highlighted the exceptional depth of Philippine speed cubing in 2025, where every turn counted toward separating the top contenders from the chasing pack.

One-handed solving provided another showcase of fine technical execution as Maverick Sua claimed the 3x3x3 One-Handed title with an 11.71 average, just edging out Palisoc who took second with 11.74. Borromeo placed third with an 11.94 average, while Sua also held the fastest single solve of the event at 8.93. Palisoc soon captured gold of his own in the 5x5x5 Cube, finishing with a 45.32 winning average and a 38.61 single, ahead of Christian Naguio at 51.14 and Lo Wong at 52.53.

The specialized events rounded out a busy schedule at SM City Manila with standout performances in precision and memory. Karl Abarquez seized the Clock title with a 3.07 average and a 2.71 single, followed by Zoei Principe with 3.44 and Zian Principe with 4.75. In the memory events, John Axel B. Gordo dominated both categories, taking the 3x3x3 Blindfolded crown with a 21.25 single ahead of Naguio and Miguel Inigo O. Valenzuela, before winning 3x3x3 Multi-Blind with 40 out of 51 cubes solved in 1:00:02. The successful conclusion of SM Manila Speedcubing Warm-Up 2025 provided an inspiring benchmark for competitors preparing for future regional fixtures.

Maagang napuno ang bulwagan ng SM City Manila sa City of Manila, Philippines kung saan nagtipon ang 67 kalahok mula sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa at maging mula sa ibayong dagat. Bago pa man sumapit ang unang opisyal na pag-ikot ng mga puzzle, ramdam na ang sigla sa mga mesa habang inilalatag ang mga timer at banig. Marami sa mga kalahok ang nagbiyahe nang malayo, bitbit ang kani-kanilang mga bag na puno ng sari-saring uri ng Rubik's Cube, upang makibahagi sa isang buong araw ng matinding tapatan sa bilis at talas ng isip ngayong June 14, 2025.

Ang buong paligsahan na tinaguriang SM Manila Speedcubing Warm-Up 2025 ay nagtampok ng 7 events at 12 rounds na sumubok sa kakayahan ng bawat speedcuber. Sa pangunahing kategorya ng 3x3x3 Cube na nilahukan ng 66 na kalahok sa loob ng tatlong rounds, ipinamalas ni Leo Borromeo ang kanyang pambihirang bilis. Nasungkit niya ang unang pwesto matapos magtala ng winning average na 5.92 at best single na 4.73. Sumunod sa kanya si Toby Litiatco na may average na 5.99 para sa ikalawang pwesto, habang si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong naman ang pumangatlo sa kanyang average na 6.48.

Hindi lamang sa pangunahing event nagpasiklab si Leo Borromeo dahil pinangunahan din niya ang 4x4x4 Cube laban sa 50 katunggali. Naitala niya ang winning average na 24.23 at best single na 22.24 upang muling umakyat sa tuktok ng podium. Pumangalawa sa naturang dibisyon si Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na nagtala ng 26.54 average, habang si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc ang pumangatlo tangan ang 29.49 average matapos ang dalawang rounds ng labanan.

Sa kategoryang 3x3x3 One-Handed na umakit ng 48 competitors, naging dikit ang labanan para sa gintong medalya. Nagtagumpay si Maverick Sua sa kanyang winning average na 11.71 at best single na 8.93. Bahagya lamang siyang nauna kay Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagtapos sa ikalawang pwesto na may 11.74 average, samantalang si Leo Borromeo ang pumangatlo na may 11.94 average. Sa 5x5x5 Cube naman, naghari si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagtala ng 45.32 winning average at 38.61 best single, kasunod sina Christian Naguio na may 51.14 at Brenton Angelo Lo Wong na may 52.53 sa nag-iisang round nito.

Bukod sa bilis ng kamay, nasubok din ang memorya at konsentrasyon sa mga blindfolded events. Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded, nanguna si John Axel B. Gordo na nagtala ng winning single na 21.25, habang pumangalawa si Christian Naguio sa 41.26 at pumangatlo si Miguel Iñigo O. Valenzuela sa 46.21. Muling nagwagi si John Axel B. Gordo sa 3x3x3 Multi-Blind nang makumpleto niya ang 40 sa 51 cubes sa loob ng 1:00:02. Sa kabilang banda, pinagharian ni Karl Abarquez ang Clock na may winning average na 3.07 at best single na 2.71, kung saan pumangalawa si Zoei Principe sa 3.44 at pumangatlo si Zian Principe sa 4.75.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, marami ring personal na tagumpay ang naitala sa speedcubing na nagbigay-kulay sa kumpetisyon. Si Luis Gabriel Cueto Pahati na sumabak sa 5 events ay nagtala ng 5x5x5 Cube personal best na 2:52.22 mula sa dating 3:38.60 na mas mabilis nang 21.2% at 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 49.26 na 19.3% na mas mabilis. Si Zander Verona naman na lumaban sa 7 events at nagtapos sa ika-8 pwesto sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded ay nagtala ng 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best na 23.56 na mas mabilis nang 16.6%, 4x4x4 Cube personal best na 40.09 na 12.9% na mas mabilis, at unang subok sa Clock na 13.02. Samantala, pinabilis ni Brishen Enzo B. Amurao ang kanyang 3x3x3 Cube personal best sa 8.68 na 12.8% na pagbuti kasabay ng unang subok sa 3x3x3 One-Handed na 22.69, habang si Alfonso Luis M. Bautista ay nagtala ng 3x3x3 Cube personal best na 19.66 na 8.7% na mas mabilis at sumubok sa 4x4x4 Cube sa unang pagkakataon sa oras na 2:07.82.

Apat na bagong manlalaro naman ang sumabak sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition sa entablado ng Maynila. Si Keann Nathan E. Perlawan ay lumahok sa 3 events kung saan nagtala siya ng 22.07 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 56.72 sa 3x3x3 One-Handed, at 1:41.39 sa 4x4x4 Cube bilang kanyang mga unang opisyal na marka. Si Enzo Mateo ay sumabak sa 2 events at nagtala ng 18.53 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 25.80 sa Clock. Gayundin si Stheaven Arreza na nagrehistro ng 15.90 sa 3x3x3 Cube at 1:29.96 sa 4x4x4 Cube sa kanyang 2 events, habang si Lucas Andres Sto. Domingo ay nagtala ng kanyang unang marka sa 3x3x3 Cube na 34.50 at Clock na 38.47.

Naging matagumpay ang buong cubing competition sa pagtitipon ng mga pinakamahuhusay at mga bagong mukha sa komunidad. Lahat ng 21 podium places ay nasungkit ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas, patunay sa malalim na talento sa bansa pagdating sa bilis ng paglutas. Sa pagtatapos ng araw sa Maynila, ang mga naging karanasan, bagong rekord, at pagkakaibigang nabuo sa entablado ay magsisilbing inspirasyon sa muling pagbubukas ng mga susunod na paligsahan sa darating na panahon.