2008 PokerStars.net APPT Manila

Brett Parise made a very deep run as the defending champion of APPT Manila, but he couldn't make back-to-back tables happen. He's been eliminated from the feature table in 18th place, an impressive finish in this talent-rich field of 285 players. He reraised to 40,000 after Marish Sansi opened the pot to 16,000. Sansi called to a flop of , where all the chips went in. Parise turned over for top set, but Sansi had flopped the second nut flush with . The board didn't pair, running out to send Parise to the rail.

June Caberoy opened with a raise to 15,000 from the button before Jeppe Drivsholm moved all in from the small blind for over 50,000 chips. The big blind folded and Caberoy insta-called in a manner that he knew he had the best hand.

He was right as Drivsholm tabled to be dominated by Caberoy's . The board arrived and although the flop provided Drivsholm with plenty of chop outs, and he made three pair on the river, the nine kicker of Caberoy played to send him the pot and eliminate Drivsholm from the tournament in 19th place.

It's been an entertaining run through the tournament for local player Melvin "the Miracle" Matibag, but he's finally been done in. After Noh Tae Jun opened the pot to 10,000, Matibag moved all in for a total of 23,000. Van Marcus moved all in behind him, folding everyone else.

Matibag:
Marcus:

Matibag was looking for lots of paint on the board, but didn't get it. The board ran out . Marcus' tens held to send Matibag to the rail in 20th place.

Rey Tuason open-shoved from under the gun for 38,000 before Melvin Matibag moved all in over the top for 68,000 in total. The action was then with Van Marcus who tanked for a long time and contemplated knocking out two players but eventually folded (later said to be ).

Tuason:
Matibag:

The board fell giving Tuason the pot with a flush as Marcus cringed over a missed opportunity.

Tuason is up to 80,000 as Matibag is now the short stack with 30,000.

Stack consolidation continues at a steady pace. Michael Mariakis is the latest victim. He pushed all in for 43,000 after Josh Pang Ang raised to 14,000 and was called by Manish Sansi. Ang folded to that reraise, but Sansi made the call with . He was in a dominating position over the of Mariakis. An ace on the river sealed the pot for Sansi on a board of .

Mariakis gets $3,800 for his performance in this tournament.

Marco Andria had been battling with the short stack for most of the evening and found to move his last 30,000 into the middle. His timing was off as Chang Yong Suk woke up with .

The board landed and Andria is sent to the rail in 22nd place as Suk claims the chip lead with over 300,000 chips.

The short stack of the field, Rainier Aquino open shoved from the small blind with and June Caberoy was happy to race with his .

The board was kind to Aquino as it fell to give him a double up to about 70,000. Caberoy falls to 60,000.

A short-stacked Nali Kaselias has been eliminated after moving all in with but being called by Ramil Tandoc who held .

The board ran out to end the tournament for the PokerNews Cup Champion in 23rd place. He'll collect $3,800 for his efforts in Manila.

Short on chips, Rainier Aquino open-shoved from late position. He was snap-called by Melvin "the Miracle" Matibag from the big blind. It was an ugly situation for Aquino; his queen-ten was up against pocket queens. No worries for Aquino though. The flop gave him a staight that remained the best hand through the turn and river.