‘UNO’ shines in Cavite Speedcubing Open with national record, multiple podiums

Peter Jandrei Melan

At just 11 years old, Juan Miguel “UNO” Magallanes continues to prove he’s one of the brightest young stars in Philippine speedcubing.

Photo Courtesy of Fullcourtfresh

UNO, a Grade 6 student from La Salle Green Hills, stole the spotlight at the Cavite Speedcubing Open XI 2025 held at Robinsons Dasmariñas in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, where 78 of the country’s top cubers competed across multiple events, on July 13.

UNO clinched first place in the 2x2x2 Cube event, averaging 1.36 seconds, and set a new Philippine national record in the process. 

His best single solve clocked in at a lightning-fast 0.97 seconds, the only sub-second solve of the tournament.

“I just tried to stay calm, inhaled, exhaled, and focused on my inspection,” UNO said when asked about his record-breaking performance. “I didn’t think about breaking any records, I just told myself to go one solve at a time and do my best.”

He also earned a third-place finish in the 3x3x3 One-Handed event with a 14.52-second average and a best of 11.29 seconds, further cementing his versatility.

UNO’s rapid rise in the speedcubing scene has been nothing short of impressive. “I just turned 11 years old last month and I started competing when I was 9. I’ve been solving cubes since I was 8, but I only got serious about it when I joined my first competition last November 19, 2023,” he shared.

Just four months later, he reached his first podium finish on March 28, 2024. Then, on June 15, 2024, only seven months after his competitive debut, UNO achieved a major milestone: his first Philippine National Record.

The competition featured speedcubers from across the Philippines and beyond, including representatives from China, Malaysia, Peru, and Nigeria. 

Other standout performances included Crimson Arradaza, who dominated the main 3x3x3 event with a 6.23-second average, and China’s Anyu Zhang, who topped the 5x5x5, 6x6x6, and 7x7x7 categories.

Despite his young age, UNO has already made a name for himself in the cubing scene. Still, his path hasn’t always been smooth.

“Sometimes I get stuck and stop improving for a while,” he shared. “It can feel frustrating, but I just keep practicing, learn new tricks and algorithms until I get better.”

UNO credits his family, especially his mom, as his biggest source of strength and support. “She always watches cube reviews and finds the cube that best fits me. She even learned how to lube and set up my cubes,” he said.

His advice to young and aspiring cubers? “Just keep practicing and don’t be afraid to mess up. It’s okay to be slow at first. You’ll get faster if you keep going. Always have fun while solving!”

With multiple championships, national records, and an unshakable mindset, Juan Miguel “UNO” Magallanes isn’t just solving cubes, he’s solving his way to greatness.