MANILA, Philippines—If the country’s failure to win any gold medal in the ongoing Olympics is dragging you down, then let this piece of success story perk you up: Steven Purugganan, a Filipino, has recently been declared world champion in the 2008 World Sport Stacking Championships.

Not only did he emerge on top in each of the three categories he joined in his age division (10 years old), he also ended up first place in all those categories overall, beating hundreds of contestants, young and old alike.

Stacking—a game that challenges one to stack and un-stack a set of special cups in the shortest time possible—is currently taking the country and the rest of the world by storm. The game is promoted and governed by the World Cup Stacking Association, which was formed in 2001 and is now known as the World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA).

The WSSA hosts the annual World Sport Stacking Championships, held every spring in Denver, Colorado. Attracting contestants from all over the world, the competition convenes the fastest and most ambitious stackers who want a crack at setting world records in their age groups and divisions.

This year, Purugganan didn’t just want to set the world record. He even broke his own previous world records.

In the 3-3-3- category where one needs to stack and un-stack a set of 9 cups, Purugganan holds the world record, finishing the task at 1.86 seconds. In the more complicated Cycle category, where one does a series of stacking and un-stacking using 40 hand movements, he clocked in at 6.21 seconds, another world record for the young boy.

Love affair

Purugganan’s love affair with stacking started in 2006 when he and older brothers Brian, 12, and Andrew, 16, saw the 2006 World Sport Stacking Championships on ESPN. The game piqued them so much that they taped it so they could watch it over and over again, and then practiced with plastic cups which just got stuck to one another and got crumpled.

The family ended up buying a set of the special cups made especially for stacking. It didn’t take long before each boy had a set of his own.

The brothers are part of Team USA, and while they compete with each other in the overall scoring, they also team up—Steven and Andrew competing in the Doubles—Cycle category and even placing first in the 18-and-under division in the recent championships.

To train for stacking, the Purugganan boys have coaches who supervise their practice for speed and consistency. The practice comprises 30-minute drills every day, calisthenics and mental preparation as well.

Steven, on his own, practices at least an hour every day. He also tries to be careful with his hands around the tournament season, making sure they’re in tiptop shape for competition.

Also, “I usually just think positive,” he says. “I think positive, that good things will happen.”

This positivity has brought him lots of medals and trophies. In fact, they’re so many that he has already lost count. “They’re just on a shelf in my room,” he says casually.

There is no doubt, though, that this achiever is very proud of what he has accomplished so far. “It’s just a great feeling. Knowing about all these stackers all around the world and that I won is a great feeling.”

Some of his goals include finishing the Cycle in less than 6 seconds, and beating the very skilled German stackers who have their own world records.

Demo games

Purugganan, along with the rest of his family, is currently in Manila for a very special speed stacking exhibition as part of Bonifacio Global City’s Passion Rush event. Supported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Purugganan will make an appearance as part of the city’s lineup of activities for Game Blitz, a series of demo games that has already featured speed cubers last Aug. 17 and will be featuring speed scrabble on Sept. 7.

On Aug. 24, 4 p.m., Purugganan will showcase his world-class speed stacking skills through an exciting demonstration at Bonifacio High Street.

The boys’ parents, Danilo and Victoria, are very proud of their sons, and not just because of their impressive ranking and record-breaking times. When it comes to Steven, for instance, mom Victoria says, “I am glad he has remained as humble as he is through all these. He’s remained level-headed.”

“They are very competitive with each other,” she adds, referring to her three boys. “It’s all healthy. When we go to a tournament, we all go because all three are participating instead of just one or two so it makes my job easier.”

Apart from sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, golf and swimming, all three boys are also into playing with their Nintendo Wii and the Rubik’s cube.

Steven, a straight-A student, also plays the violin for the school orchestra and considers Math his favorite subject.

Asked if he finds Lindsay Lohan or Miley Cyrus cute, Steven says no. He’s only 10, after all.

But a world-record holder, and Filipino. Attaboy.

E-mail the author at ninomarksablan@yahoo.com (Inquirer News Service)