HomePASAY CITY, Philippines – With Day 1A of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) 2022 Philippines now in the books, David Song of Korea led the spate of 49 runners coming from 104 entries who advanced to Day 2 of the competition even as (Event #4) the Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) tourney opted to decide its champion along with the Single-Day High-Rollers (Event #5) as the action wound down here at the Grand Wing Casino, Newport World Resorts.
Song amassed 136,900 in total holdings which was just slightly higher than Filipino Clyde Troy Morales‘ stack of 135,500. Great Britain’s Andrew McAllister is holding down third place with 128,400 while reigning APT Manila Main Event titlist Reniel Galvez is in fourth with 126,600. British campaigner Mike Allen, who also saw action in APT Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, is in fifth with 112,200.
As announced, Day 2 of the Main Event will have a featured table that will be Livestreamed and perhaps some of those making it from the first qualifier may be part of that expereince.
Meanwhile, Filipino favorite Don “Pusang Gala” Carmona finally joined the APT winners’ circle by triumphing in (Event #3) the Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) tourney that was supposed to be a two-day affair but ended up being settled within the day as the Final 8 was reached before 10:00PM (UCT+8).
Don “Pusang Gala” Carmona (PHI) wins his first APT title in t(Event #3) the Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) tourney
Carmona, a native of Surigao province, bested a field of 55 and even gave his opponent from Chinese Taipei Wu Jun Hao–a side event winner in the 2021 APT Taipei–a unique offer.
“I was already giving him the trophy,” Carmona bared in the vernacular after the tussle. “He had the chip lead in Heads-Up and I asked for a chop. He refused so we played on.”
In what was a declination wrought with destiny, Carmona–whose poker nickname “Pusang Gala” literally means “Stray Cat”, an expression he often uses during his battles on the felt–overcame the deficit and the climax came with him playing a hand of AhTs3h3c versus Wu’s Tc9h8h7h .
The flop came Qh7c2h–Wu hit middle pair and a flush draw with Carmona having the nut flush draw. Wu shoved, Carmona called.
The turn was a 4s but then the game winner for Carmona came on the river when the Th arrived. The pro Filipino gallery erupted in jubilation as the host nation snared yet another victory.
Carmona ended up with his first ever APT trophy after cashing four times previously, including a second place finish in the Head Hunter event in the 2011 APT Manila.
He also collected PhP236,900.00 (US$4,152.00) while Wu got PhP157,900.00 (US$2,767.00). Third place went to Korea’s Lee Hyunseung for PhP109,800.00 (US$1,924.00).
Event #4–the PhP65,000.00 (US$1,139.00) Single-Day High-Rollers went to High-Roller specialist Flo Campomanes (currently third in the all-time Philippine moneylist) after outlasting former APT Player of the Series Vamerdino Magsakay in a short Heads-Up battle after going more than two hours three-handed with Joris Michl of Ireland.
After the elimination of Michl, it didn’t take long for Campomanes–who had previously taken down the 2015 APT Manila Single-Day High-Rollers and the 2022 APT Phu Quoc Super High-Rollers event–to send Magsakay to the rail for good when he decided to shove with Ad6h and was called by his opponent, who was behind with Kc2h.
Flo Campomanes (PHI) makes it four in a row for the host nation by winning Event #5-the first PhP65k Single-Day High-Rollers
The flop of Td8s5d still favored Campomanes’ Ace-high but the win became official on the turn when the As showed up with the meaningless Tc on the river giving Campomanes the title and the PhP636,300.00 (US$11,144.00) top prize. Magsakay came away PhP403,500.00 (US$7,067.00) while Michl received PhP249,800.00 (US$4,376.00) for finishing in third.
Day 4 (September 9th) will see two single-day events take place with (Event #6) the popular PhP16,500.00 (US$289.00) Super Deep Stack Turbo (S-DST) starting at 2:00PM closely followed by the second PhP65,000.00 (US1,139.00) Single-Day High-Rollers.
All that will be preceded, however, by the commencement of Day 1B of the PhP15M GTD (US$262,800.00) Main Event at 1:00PM.
