South Luzon Championship 2024

Sixty-six competitors took their seats at Robinsons General Trias on July 27, 2024, bringing precision to a demanding single-day slate of ten rounds across seven events. While standard speedcubing tests manual dexterity, blindfolded solving requires memorisation and intense focus, a standard of mental discipline that set the tone across the tables in General Trias City, Cavite, Philippines. The atmosphere inside the bustling venue demanded complete composure from the opening turn, establishing an uncompromising standard of execution for everyone striving to master the Rubik's Cube across various formats.

Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc emerged as the dominant force of South Luzon Championship 2024, capturing three separate victories throughout the competition. His most prominent triumph came in the main event, where sixty-five competitors battled through three rounds. Palisoc locked down first place in 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 7.47 seconds and a best single solve of 6.54. Maverick Sua pushed the pace to claim the runner-up spot with a 7.92 average, while Yuan Matalog secured third place on the podium with an 8.68 mark in the 3x3 results.

The big cube categories saw Palisoc continue his sweep with remarkable consistency. In the 4x4x4 Cube, which drew 38 competitors for a single intense round, Palisoc posted a winning average of 28.10 seconds alongside a 27.28 single. Sua took second place with a 33.01 average, edging Moses Elijah San Pascual who finished third with 33.33. Palisoc later returned to conquer the 5x5x5 Cube, recording a winning average of 45.67 seconds and a best single of 41.90 across two rounds. Dale Palmares took second place at 53.68, followed by Christian Naguio in third with 56.49.

Sua found his own path to the top of the podium in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event. Facing a field of 32 competitors in a single round, Sua recorded a winning average of 11.77 seconds and registered a 9.54 single solve to earn first place. Palisoc showed his versatility by taking the second-place spot with an average of 12.95, while Naguio added another medal to his tally by placing third with an average of 13.55 seconds in the specialized one-handed discipline.

Beyond the championship battles, significant personal milestones defined South Luzon Championship 2024. Gabriel Amiel N. Pacarro entered six events and registered a massive improvement in Clock, finishing in 24th place with an 18.54 personal best that was 87.2 percent faster than his previous mark, while making his first ever attempt at Skewb in 10.59 and 4x4x4 Cube in 1:07.15. Janelle Anne Binamira Tubo achieved a 4.22 personal best in 2x2x2 Cube to drop her mark by 45.8 percent, cut her 3x3x3 Cube best by 20.5 percent down to 20.62, and logged a 9.03 in her first ever attempt at Skewb. Karl Aaron P. Ilano entered six events and posted a 4.59 personal best in Skewb that was 50.1 percent faster than before, alongside a 17.7 percent drop in 5x5x5 Cube to 1:40.82.

The surge of breakthroughs continued as Mathieu Ramis Balauat took on four events, securing a 12.22 Skewb personal best that was 31.7 percent faster, a 6.05 in 2x2x2 Cube that improved his previous best by 20.5 percent, and a 20.54 Clock best that was 18.6 percent faster. Darren Floyd Dilidili posted a 38.42 personal best in 4x4x4 Cube, dropped his 3x3x3 Cube best by 8 percent to 8.64 for a 13th-place finish, and completed his first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 1:37.34. Joshua B. Elca tackled six events, achieving a 24.67 personal best in 3x3x3 One-Handed, a 7.62 personal best in Skewb, and a 1:10.61 on his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube. Jedd Ebenezer Perez entered six events, logging his first ever attempt at Skewb in 16.27, Clock in 26.64, and 4x4x4 Cube in 2:05.71. Juan Alfonso Magtibay logged his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:24.96 and improved his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best by 14.2 percent to 37.49.

The short-format events delivered blazing speeds on the competition floor. Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes took the 2x2x2 Cube title against 50 competitors, putting up a winning average of 1.99 seconds and a tournament-best single of 1.45. Yuji Yoshida earned the silver medal with a 2.76 average, while Palmares collected bronze with a 3.27 average. In Clock, Zoei Principe delivered a dominant performance among 30 entrants, claiming the title with a winning average of 3.72 seconds and a single solve of 3.44, finishing ahead of Karl Abarquez at 5.27 and Kyle Capiral at 5.31.

Abarquez turned around to claim victory in Skewb, where 34 competitors took their chances in a single round. Abarquez earned the gold medal with a 4.02 winning average and a 3.42 single, holding off Ayra Aiesha N. Negrillo who finished second at 4.13, and Yoshida who finished third at 4.16 seconds. All 21 available podium places across the seven categories were claimed by competitors representing the host nation, underscoring the depth of local speed cubing talent across every format.

The action at South Luzon Championship 2024 concluded as a testament to the discipline and preparation required in modern speedcubing. Across seven diverse events in this WCA competition, competitors showed both the mental restraint needed for complex problem solving and the lightning execution needed for short sprints. The successful day at Robinsons General Trias added another exciting chapter to the 2024 cubing competition calendar, setting high standards for all who stepped up to the tables.

Niyanig ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc ang entablado sa Robinsons General Trias matapos magtala ng dominanteng 7.47 average sa finals ng 3x3x3 Cube upang angkinin ang pinakamimithing kampeonato. Ang nasabing tagumpay ay nagpatunay sa kanyang pambihirang bilis sa gitna ng 65 kalahok na nagtagisan sa tatlong rounds ng klasikong Rubik's Cube. Pumangalawa sa naturang labanan si Maverick Sua na may 7.92 average habang pumangatlo naman si Yuan Matalog na nagrehistro ng 8.68 sa matinding bakbakan sa Cavite.

Ginanap noong Hulyo 27, 2024 ang South Luzon Championship 2024 sa General Trias City, Cavite, Philippines kung saan 66 na mga atleta ang nagtipon para sa isang araw ng masinsinang speedcubing. Sa kabuuan ay pitong magkakaibang events at sampung rounds ang matagumpay na naisagawa sa torneyo. Nasaksihan ng buong bulwagan ang husay ng mga kalahok mula sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa sa bawat pag-ikot ng mga puzzle.

Sa mga format kung saan bawat pagkakamali ay may mabigat na kapalit at walang puwang ang kahit kaunting pagkaantala, ipinamalas ni Palisoc ang kanyang tibay sa malalaking cubes. Nakamit niya ang unang puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube tangan ang 28.10 average at 27.28 best single laban sa 38 katunggali, kung saan sumunod si Maverick Sua na may 33.01 at Moses Elijah San Pascual na nagtala ng 33.33. Hindi pa doon nagtapos ang kanyang dominasyon dahil muli siyang nanguna sa dalawang rounds ng 5x5x5 Cube gamit ang 45.67 average.

Sa likod ni Palisoc sa 5x5x5 Cube, nakuha ni Dale Palmares ang ikalawang puwesto na may 53.68 habang pumangatlo naman si Christian Naguio sa kanyang 56.49 average. Ipinakita sa labanang ito kung paano sumusubok ang konsentrasyon ng bawat kalahok dahil ang isang maling galaw sa malalaking cube ay agad na sumisira sa kabuuang marka. Bawat yugto ay naging pagsubok ng determinasyon at bilis ng kamay para sa lahat ng pumasok sa finals.

Bumawi naman si Maverick Sua sa kategoryang 3x3x3 One-Handed nang dominahin niya ang 32 kalahok bitbit ang 11.77 winning average at 9.54 best single. Pumangalawa sa kanya si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc na nagsumite ng 12.95 habang pumangatlo si Christian Naguio na may 13.55. Sa iba pang mabilisang laro, nasungkit ni Juan Miguel Y. Magallanes ang panalo sa 2x2x2 Cube sa bilis na 1.99 average, sinundan nina Yuji Yoshida na may 2.76 at Dale Palmares na may 3.27.

Hindi rin nagpahuli ang iba pang mga kategorya sa South Luzon Championship 2024. Pinangunahan ni Karl Abarquez ang Skewb sa pamamagitan ng 4.02 average, na sinundan nina Ayra Aiesha N. Negrillo na nagtala ng 4.13 at Yuji Yoshida na may 4.16. Samantala, sa Clock event ay nagwagi si Zoei Principe matapos magrehistro ng 3.72 average at 3.44 best single upang talunin sina Karl Abarquez na pumangalawa sa 5.27 at Kyle Capiral na pumangatlo sa 5.31.

Sa likod ng mga nagwagi sa podium, sumiklab din ang galing ng mga manlalarong nagtala ng malalaking pag-unlad sa kanilang mga talaan. Si Jacob Carlisle F. Borromeo ay nagtala ng 11.78 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube na 40.2 porsyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa kanyang dating 19.71. Sa Skewb, pinatunayan ni Quiel Antonio C. Valera ang kanyang husay matapos magtala ng 5.51 personal best mula sa 8.82 na 37.5 porsyentong pagbilis habang nagtala rin ng 26.01 sa One-Handed, at si Gabriel Inrico S. De Belen ay kumaltas ng 28.8 porsyento sa 2x2x2 Cube sa kanyang 1.90 personal best kasabay ng pagtala ng 35.44 sa 4x4x4 Cube at 1:19.41 sa 5x5x5 Cube.

Nagpakitang-gilas din ang dayuhang kalahok na si Sam Moons mula Belgium na sumabak sa apat na kategorya kabilang ang kanyang unang pagsubok sa Skewb na nagbunga ng 6.23 kasama ang 11.19 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube. Sa kanilang pinakaunang WCA competition, buong tapang na sumalang sa 3x3x3 Cube sina Lance Bladimir M. Moreno na nagtala ng 32.02 at 28.65 sa 2x2x2 Cube, Rhayan Job D. Bautista na nagrehistro agad ng 12.01, Agastthya Srivastava na may 30.44, at Ethan Jerald Dela Rosa na nagtala ng 50.26.

Naging ganap na tagumpay ang nag-iisang araw ng cubing competition sa lalawigan ng Cavite kung saan lahat ng 21 puwesto sa podium ay nasungkit ng mga kinatawan ng Pilipinas. Ang bawat round at bawat pagsubok sa iba't ibang puzzle ay nag-iwan ng magagandang aral para sa mga kalahok na naghangad ng kani-kanilang pinakamahusay na oras. Sa pagtatapos ng torneo, bitbit ng bawat manlalaro ang karanasan at inspirasyon para sa paghahanda sa susunod na yugto ng paligsahan.