Philippines, Okada ManilaEVENT #23

2025.01.27Add to Calendar

PokerStars Live

Joshua Cuevas

United States of America

Blind level

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Entries

12/77

Total Chips

2,310,000

Average

192,500

Flight D

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 7:42:27 PM

Joshua Cuevas Caps Main Event Flight D with the Lead

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Joshua Cuevas - Main Event Flight D Chipleader

The 21st edition of the Manila Megastack Main Event drew a total of 467 entries, holding its PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705) guarantee up high. Tonight’s final flight brought in 77 additional entries, with only 12 players managing to survive and secure a spot into Day 2. Each returning contender is now guaranteed a min cash of PHP 73,000 (~USD 1,250), backed with a fighting chance to claim this season's PHP 3,900,000 (~USD 66,830) top prize.

Running on lightning speed, Joshua Cuevas capped Flight D with the lead, bringing in a smashing 432,000 chip count onto the next round. Cuevas inched over the top spot by the last few levels of play, and stands to be in third position across the overall Day 2 order. Joining him on the list is Netherlands' Joris Michl who finished with 254,000, after sending Renato Villanueva to the rail as the flight’s bubble.

Other local crushers advancing through include Edgar Asehan (240,000), Eman Segismundo (179,000), and Edwin Dela Cruz (152,000).

Play resumes at 13:00 on Sunday, January 26, with 40-minute blind levels running throughout, as the field plays down to the final table. Stay tuned for updates as SMP brings you all the latest directly off the floor!

Manila Megastack 21 Main Event

Date/s: January 23-27, 2025

Buy-in: PHP 45,000 (~USD 770)

Guarantee: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705)

Entries: 467

Prize pool: PHP 20,000,000 (~USD 342,705)

ITM: 71 places

Flight A: 83 entries, 13 qualified

Flight B: 101 entries, 15 qualified

Flight C: 206 entries, 31 qualified

Flight D [20/15]: 77 entries, 12 qualified

Day 2: Sunday, January 26

Final Day: Monday, January 27

SMPSMP

1/25/2025, 7:14:41 PM

End of Flight D - 12 Survivors

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Player	Chips
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	432,000(27 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	254,000(16 BB)
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	240,000(15 BB)
HM Ha Mai Anh	207,000(13 BB)
RT Ryan TanPhilippines	198,000(12 BB)
ES Emmanuel SegismundoPhilippines	179,000(11 BB)
MG Martin GonzalesPhilippines	160,000(10 BB)
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	152,000(10 BB)
DW Dong Woo LeeSouth Korea	145,000(9 BB)
JC Jose ColadaPhilippines	138,000(9 BB)
CR Christopher RichardsUnited Kingdom	116,000(7 BB)
EJ Eom Joonghoon	90,000(6 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:51:44 PM

Joshua Cuevas on Police Duty

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Joshua Cuevas

Edwin Dela Cruz defended his big blind against Joshua Cuevas' 23,000 cutoff open, and battled on board 6♦ 7♦ Q♠ 4♥ 5♣ . Action checked all the way down to the river, pushing Dela Cruz to lead 35,000.

Cuevas made the call with 2♥ 2♠ , and found it good against Dela Cruz's bluff J♣ 9♣ .

Player	Chips
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	402,000(40 BB)
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	225,000(23 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:44:09 PM

Jean Paul Berdejo Runs Into Cowboys

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Jean Paul Berdejo sent out a 90,000 three bet against an early open, and saw Joshua Cuevas push behind. Initial raiser folded, leaving Berdejo to call for his last 3,000.

Berdejo in trouble, exited the arena shortly after board 3♥ 8♣ 5♥ 7♣ T♣ delivered no bad beats.

Player	Hand	Chips
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	K♥K♠ SB	302,000(30 BB)
JP Jean Paul BerdejoPeru	A♣K♦ D	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 6:26:46 PM

Chip Count Update

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

The day is close to wrapping up with only 15 players out of the 77-entry field left standing. Three more eliminations are due before the runners reach for bags with 12 players advancing through to Day 2.

Chip Counts

Player	Chips
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	271,000(27 BB)
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	245,000(25 BB)
HM Ha Mai Anh	218,000(22 BB)
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	210,000(21 BB)
DW Dong Woo LeeSouth Korea	180,000(18 BB)
RT Ryan TanPhilippines	164,000(16 BB)
JC Jose ColadaPhilippines	140,000(14 BB)
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	127,000(13 BB)
ES Emmanuel SegismundoPhilippines	126,000(13 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	124,000(12 BB)
JP Jean Paul BerdejoPeru	118,000(12 BB)
EJ Eom Joonghoon	99,000(10 BB)
MG Martin GonzalesPhilippines	97,000(10 BB)
WY William YsmaelPhilippines	97,000(10 BB)
CR Christopher RichardsUnited Kingdom	87,000(9 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:50:04 PM

Joshua Cuevas Cracks Kings, Busts Anthony Castro

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Joshua Cuevas

Joshua Cuevas opened 12,000 on the hijack and saw Anthony Castro on the small blind, come along on flop 3♣ 8♥ Q♥ . Cuevas continued for 17,000, and called 27,000 more following a check jam from his opponent.

Anthony Castro K♦ K♣

Joshua Cuevas A♥ 9♥

Runout 6♣ A♦ tabled no hearts, but offered Cuevas a pair of aces, just enough to crack Castro's kings by the river.

Player	Chips
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	259,000(52 BB)
AC Anthony CastroPhilippines	busted

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:46:26 PM

Pocket Pair Holds for Anthony Castro

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Anthony Castro pushed all-in for his last 28,000 on the hijack and was looked up by Joshua Cuevas on the small blind.

Castro ahead, locked in the win after board 8♣ 8♦ 6♥ J♣ K♠ felted no aces.

Player	Hand	Chips
AC Anthony CastroPhilippines	7♦7♣ HJ	66,000(13 BB)
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	A♣4♥ SB	186,000(37 BB)

Janette BeeJanette Bee

1/25/2025, 5:37:44 PM

Chip Count Update

Level 15: 2,000 / 4,000 ante: 4,000

Player	Chips
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	194,000(49 BB)
LE Lester EdocPhilippines	192,000(48 BB)
ED Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines	174,000(44 BB)
JC Joshua CuevasUnited States of America	171,000(43 BB)
ES Emmanuel SegismundoPhilippines	152,000(38 BB)
EJ Eom Joonghoon	131,000(33 BB)
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	128,000(32 BB)
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	124,000(31 BB)
DW Dong Woo LeeSouth Korea	112,000(28 BB)
HT Hazel TimoneraPhilippines	84,000(21 BB)
CR Christopher RichardsUnited Kingdom	80,000(20 BB)
WY William YsmaelPhilippines	79,000(20 BB)
JP Jean Paul BerdejoPeru	75,000(19 BB)
HM Ha Mai Anh	68,000(17 BB)
RT Ryan TanPhilippines	68,000(17 BB)
MR Marc RiveraPhilippines	67,500(17 BB)
LE Lenart EcarmaPhilippines	58,000(15 BB)
JC Jose ColadaPhilippines	53,000(13 BB)
MG Martin GonzalesPhilippines	43,000(11 BB)
JN Jason Ng Tze WeiSingapore	40,900(10 BB)
RM Rene Mar DavidPhilippines	37,000(9 BB)