APT Philippines 2014 Main Event

Rajesh Sitlani crippled Luke Pangan down to 7000 with Pocket Fives hitting a set on the turn against Pangan’s top two pair with his K-Q.

With brother Czardy Rivera already out of the tournament earlier today, it’s the turn of big brother Marc (Philippines) to wave the Rivera flag in this main event. Another brother, Euryd got the boot in Day 1.

Jerry Lai (Malaysia) was the constant raiser in the table using his big(ger) stack as a bullying tool.

In this hand, Rivera did not allow such bullying.

Lai put 3500 preflop and Rivera called. Flop 3♥ 8♣ 9♦ was checked by both and on the turn 4♥, Rivera bet 4,000.

Lai called to bring the river A♣, which was checked by Rivera.

Lai wanted the pot though so he bet 10,000 hoping to force the fold from Rivera. A staredown later, the Filipino made the call and was shown the good news: Lai’s 6♣ 7♠ for the busted straight and he was ahead with pocket fives.

Jerry Lai of Malaysia opened the preflop action to 3,500 and saw two callers in Annie Bordallo (Guam) and another player.

All players checeked the flop K♥ 9♦ 8♣ but Lai retold his story on the turn 9♠ for 4,000.

Both opponents believed his story and Lai climbs to around 130,000 winning the small pot.

Christopher Luke Pangan of the Philippines was up against Rajesh Sitlani of India postflop 7♣ 2♣ K♦.
Pangan bet 5,000 to which Sitlani called.

Both players checked the unassuming 5♦ and on the river Q♦ Pangan checked his option only to see a 11,000 bet from Sitlani.

Pangan took his sweet time but eventually made the call.

Sitlani apparently hit his set on the turn while Pangan had two pairs on the river. Pangan drops to around 5 big blinds and needs major help to stay in the main event.

With the pot already at around 15000 and a board showing 8♥ 7♠ A♠ 10♥, big blind player Renan Morales had a 5000 chip  bet in front of him and two players still to act. Jay Tolon then raised to 10000, Annie Bordallo called, and back to Morales who shoved his 39800 stack. Not thinking too long, Tolon folded and action moved to Bordallo who tanked for a very long time. Finally, time was called on her by one of the players and with a bit of reluctance, she decided to just go for it and call. At the showdown, Morales was ahead with 8♣ 8♠ for a set against Bordallo’s A♥ 6♥ top pair nut flush draw. With the river slapping down Q♥, Bordallo’s gamble paid off as she scooped up a mountain of chips while simultaneously ending Morales’s run for the gold.

The chip leader entering Day 2, Do Hoang Anh has just around 22,000 left.

Romain Dours called a reraise all in preflop and lessened the field by one player with his A♥ J♣ besting K♠ J♥ on a board that ran 9♦ 3♠ 10♦ 8♦ 3♥.

What great timing to have the nuts preflop and get paid for it. That’s what happened with Choi Hyeong Wook who had it all in against Bryan Huang. Hyeong Wook had A♦ A♥ against Huang’s A-K offsuit. The board was no help to Huang and just like that, up went Hyeongwook as he chunked Huang’s stack.

Jerry Lai Chee Hoong of Malaysia bet 4,800 on a board of 10♥ 8♠ 3♠ 10♣ 2♠ and awaited the action of Jay Tolon (Philippines) from across the table.

Tolon was a non-believer and made the call. Lai showed pocket nines– good enough as Tolon mucked his hand. Lai has around 130,000 at this point.