NUMBER UNO: ‘Uno’ recovers form, wins 4 events in La Union Speedcubing Open

After settling for second in his Las Piñas Open campaign, Juan Miguel “Uno” Magallanes bounced back with a dominant performance in La Union two weeks later.

The Speedcubing prodigy proved why he’s one of the nation’s best after topping in four categories to clinch overall victory during the La Union Speedcubing 2025 held at Robinsons La Union, Nov. 22.

Magallanes, who previously fell to Brenton Angelo Lo Wong in the Las Piñas Speedcubing Open 2025 on Nov. 9, the La Salle Green Hills product flexed accuracy in the 3x3x3, 2x2x2, 3x3x3 One-Handed, and Clock events against 21 others to smite redemption.

Moreover, the Philippine Cubers Association-sanctioned competition also featured 4x4x4 Cube, 5x5x5 Cube, Megaminx, and Skewb.

Uno kick-started the tourney in the 3x3x3 Cube on a high note with a personal best average of 7.05 seconds, besting Xavier De Vera and Keneth Carlos’ 9.06 and 10.65-second averages, respectively.

The star-studded cube whizz breezed along the 2x2x2 Cube category as he chimed an average of 2.01 seconds, where Carlos followed with a 4.03-second average.

Eymard Celestino completed the 2x2x2 podium with a personal record average of 4.25 seconds.

Coming hot along the 3x3x3 one-handed stint, Magallanes kept composure in his strong hand with a 13.63 average over Deishein Wayne Reyes’ set personal record of 16.38 seconds, as Carlos placed third with his 17.65 seconds to complete the podium.

Rounding off his four-category dominance, Magallanes beat the clock to emerge victorious in the Clock category, finishing strong with a 7.71-second average, two seconds ahead of Odrei John Patajo’s 9.07 average as Carlos held firm in third place with 9.74 seconds.

Uno, however, missed first place in the Skewb category after Carlos dominated his 5.76-second finish with 3.81 seconds, while Victor Grand Velasco followed behind them with a 6.34 average.

Meanwhile, Louie Jay Quibote made waves in the 4x4x4 Cube category as he took the top podium with an average of 35.37 seconds, where Xavier De Vera trailed by two seconds with 37.34. Eymard Celestino struck third after completing an average of 39.82 seconds.

Quibote carried his momentum into the 5x5x5 finals with a time of 1:03.56 minutes, thwarting Celestino’s personal record of 1:19.61 minutes.

On the other hand, Carlos bagged another bronze with a 1:20.38-minute average.

Despite a “bronze-rush” campaign for Carlos, he notched a well-deserved gold in the Megaminx Category, securing first with a personal best average of 1:00.39 minutes, supported by a 59.16 single.

Nonetheless, Quibote and Velasco displayed grit with 1:07.60 and 1:17.64-minute averages, respectively.

With the La Union SpeedCubing Open having been concluded, Filipinos in the competitive cubing scene now mark their calendars for the Laguna Speedcubing Open VII 2025, to be held at Robinsons Galleria South, Nov. 29-30.