Hey, poker playas!
It is Thursday, so for this week. we would like to share a story of a great person who wanted to share his dream with his fellow Filipino.
He had a dream and the capabilities to push his dream.
And he did.
This is the story.
The poker industry back then.
Back in 2012, poker was different from what we are used to now(pre-pandemic).
Big tournaments were rare. there were two organizers. The APT and the APPT. and they held events like once or twice a year. back then big events like this were the big deal.
A million pesos tournament was actually the next. then slowly there were the dailies.
It was only in the big tournaments where players were able to play a good structure. But since there were only two organizers back then and at most only 2.
But then one man wanted to make it available for more Filipinos.
The poker industry back then.
Atty. Jojo Allado. A lawyer was working at the Department of Justice, he was introduced to poker by co-workers as a means of building camaraderie in 2009. Eventually, one of them dared him to play poker with real money at stake. Allado bravely took the challenge.
Although it was a rough start, slowly he got better at the game. After one particularly successful run, the former government servant had a brainstorm. If he could organize the various owners of poker rooms in the Philippines, they could form the Philippine Poker Tour, and be a part of something really big.
The Philippine Poker Tour is structured around 10 monthly championships, mostly in Metro Manila but increasingly branching out to other hotspots like Angeles, Cebu, and Davao. Each tournament carries P1 million in guaranteed prize money. The 10 champions are then brought together in one final table. The overall champion wins the right to play in the World Series of Poker, and will be staked (the buy-in is $10,000) and supported by the PPT.
Why he did it?
Atty Allado Believed that tournament poker is entirely different from compulsive gambling. Tournament poker is a sport and is very democratic. No matter who you are, the buy-in is the same, and the rules apply to everybody.
You can’t be bullied by someone with deeper pockets. And because of the longer blinds, even if you’re down, you have a chance to get back on top, if you’re patient enough.
This fed a vision Allado has for poker, similar to what is already happening for Filipino pool players in the biggest tournaments abroad.
Why he did it?
Atty Allado Believed that tournament poker is entirely different from compulsive gambling. Tournament poker is a sport and is very democratic. No matter who you are, the buy-in is the same, and the rules apply to everybody.
You can’t be bullied by someone with deeper pockets. And because of the longer blinds, even if you’re down, you have a chance to get back on top, if you’re patient enough.
This fed a vision Allado has for poker, similar to what is already happening for Filipino pool players in the biggest tournaments abroad.
It was a rough start.
A lot of the things he wanted to do were actually new or not really common. He wanted it to be televised and hired a team to help him do it. PPT was actually touring the Philippines holding events in different parts of the country. It was reaching players and players were dreaming of going to Vegas to play the WSOP.
It was probably half of the leg that things had to change. There were things that had to be iron out more and improve. but overall even with a few days. the tournament continued.
It was a rough start.
A lot of the things he wanted to do were actually new or not really common. He wanted it to be televised and hired a team to help him do it.
It was probably half of the leg that things had to change. There were things that had to be iron out more and improve. but overall even with a few days. the tournament continued.
The middle leg!
The tour continued, and more players were joining. all fighting for the dream.
But slowly there were some changes. But even amidst the challenges. nobody could stop Atty Allado’s dream. The tournament continued until it reach the last leg.
The Final table
As a lot of the records are already gone. here is the list of the final table players.
- Peng Mendoza
- Martin Corpuz
- Dexter Luna
- Dennis Soriano
- Rene Pacayra
- Lester Edoc
- Jonatahn Sy
- Rebel Magdagasang
- Augie Nasser
It was Peng Mendoza who won the seat to the WSOP. Lester Edoc placed second place.
The good thing about the PPT was it inspired people to dream. Lester Edoc did go to WSOP too with his own money. but others followed suit.
Yes, there were players that were going to WSOP but it was a small contingent. PPT inspired people.
PPT did not follow a second season. but Atty Allado’s vision of a Filipino finally winning a bracelet came true in 2018. Mike Takayama won a WSOP bracelet for Event #59: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Super Turbo Bounty,
Maybe PPT will one day come back.
Stay safe poker playas!
