By Edwin Rollon
For teen speed cuber Brenton Angelo Lo Wong, the future is bright for the Philippines in the fast-growing sport of Rubik's Cube speed solving.
"Filipinos are naturally talented and critical thinkers, so sports and mind games like speed cubing are a perfect fit for our young athletes. With the proper training and foundation, we can compete on equal footing with the best in the world," said Wong, a junior Business Marketing student at Ateneo de Manila University.
Wong recently reaffirmed his status as one of the country's top speed cubers after winning the prestigious 3x3 Cube title at the Philippine National Cubing Open in Tagaytay City. The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) headed by president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino, hosted the event as part of a broader initiative to promote mind sports through the newly formed National League of Mind Sports in the Philippines.
The victory added another milestone to Wong's already impressive résumé. He previously won back-to-back Philippine Cubing Championships in 2019 and 2022, while his blazing 3.84-second solve in Tagaytay established a new Philippine national record.
"The competition in Tagaytay was a new experience because of the bigger cash prizes and better competition conditions," Wong said during the weekly Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports, Inc. (TOPS) "Usapang Sports" at the Philippine Sports Commission Conference Room.
"Moving forward, I hope there will be more cash prizes, greater exposure, and more opportunities for skill development in the cubing community. My motivation is simply to continue competing," he added.
Wong attributed his continued success to mental preparation, consistent practice, proper conditioning, and good nutrition.
"My preparation is more mental. I make sure to pray before competing, and since the venue was cold, I made sure to acclimatize myself. Then it's all about practice. Consistency is very important because speedcubing involves so many algorithms, especially at the advanced level. It really takes years of practice," said Wong during the forum supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Pocari Sweat, and Behrouz Persian Cuisine.
The young speed cuber also acknowledged the unwavering support of his family, friends, fellow students, and sponsor, MnM Cube Shop.
"I am very grateful to everyone who supports me, especially God, my family, my friends, and my sponsors. Speed cubing is a sport that truly needs strong support to continue growing," he said.
Beyond competition, Wong is equally passionate about developing the next generation of Filipino speedcubers. He conducts online and onsite coaching sessions and workshops for aspiring athletes.
"I highly recommend speedcubing because it's fun, exciting, and never boring. We need to create greater awareness about the sport and organize more competitions. It also helps reduce children's dependence on gadgets. Many parents have told me that speedcubing has significantly reduced their kids' screen time. I encourage both young people and adults to give it a try," Wong said.
Wong is set to compete in the upcoming Philippine Cubing Championship Series in Iloilo next week before representing the country in an international competition in Singapore this December.
"I'm proud to wear the national colors and compete for the Philippine Team. I'll continue giving my best to win medals, and I hope my journey inspires more young Filipinos to discover and pursue the sport of speedcubing," Wong said.
