PokerStars Okada Manila Millions: Jose Colada clinches back to back Main Event titles; PJ Aratea, Wonjae Lee, Flo Campomanes among side winners

PokerStars LIVE Manila concluded its first live event of the calendar year with the 3rd edition of Okada Manila Millions taking place on January 3 to 9 at Okada Resort Hotel & Casino. Among the 14 players that walked away with brand new spade trophies, it was defending champion Jose “JC” Colada earning the highest honors for his back to back Main Event victory. Read up on Colada’s road to the top and all festival results down below. 

Festival results

Grand total prize pool: ₱ 5,655,760 (~US$ 109,705)
Total entries: 1,599
Festival unique: 428
Countries: 18 
Total winners: 14
Main Event prize pool: ₱ 3,370,013 (~US$ 65,370)
Biggest winner & payout: Jose Colada – ₱ 557,700 

Main Event: JOSE COLADA – ₱ 492,700 (~US$ 9,560)

Despite the challenges posed by the current health crisis, the Main Event exceeded all expectations. Out of the three editions, it amassed the largest prize pool of ₱ 3,370,013 (~US$ 65,370) with 1,128 entries across seven entry flights. The largest turnout was at the Day 1F flight with 182 uniques and 104 re-entries for a total of 286 entries. After seven days of action, local player Jose “JC” Colada successfully defended his title to secure ₱ 492,700 (~US$ 9,560) in cash plus a seat worth ₱ 65,000 (~US$ 1,260) to the upcoming APPT Manila Main Event. Recap below. 

Date: January 3 to 9 
Buy in: ₱ 3,500 (~US$ 68)
Guarantee: ₱ 3,000,000 (~US$ 58,190)
Entries: 1,128
Prize pool: ₱ 3,370,013 (~US$ 65,370)
ITM: 135 players
*Four way ICM deal

Final day payouts – 56 players

Place	First Name	Last Name	Country	Cash Prize
1	Jose	Colada	Philippines	₱ 492,700*
2	Luis	Bernardo	Philippines	₱ 377,400*
3	Ann Klein	Lazo	Philippines	₱ 335,700*
4	Junnie	Pamplona	Philippines	₱ 312,400*
5	Ji Eon	Han	South Korea	₱ 129,300
6	Robert Anthony	Bryan	USA	₱ 89,700
7	Choi Chang	Ui	South Korea	₱ 76,500
8	Amit	Nautiyal	India	₱ 66,600
9	Yaoguo	Wang	China	₱ 56,813
10	June Brix	Nuestro	Philippines	₱ 46,800
11	Michael	Bueza	Philippines	₱ 36,900
12	Aristotle	Sigua	Philippines	₱ 36,900
13	Kenzo	Mendoza	Philippines	₱ 30,300
14	Edwin	Dela Cruz	Philippines	₱ 30,300
15	Alvin Jeff	Sembrano	Philippines	₱ 30,300
16	Eun Hwan	Lee	South Korea	₱ 30,300
17	David Jansen	Erquiaga	Philippines	₱ 24,000
18	Algerico	Tabacon	Philippines	₱ 24,000
19	Lester	Edoc	Philippines	₱ 20,400
20	Ken How	Voo	Malaysia	₱ 20,400
21	Audrius	Karbauskas	Lithuania	₱ 20,400
22	Jasper	David	Philippines	₱ 31,700
23	Jerick	Medina	Philippines	₱ 24,700
24	Jasper	Borcena	Philippines	₱ 17,700
25	Jonald	Garcia	Philippines	₱ 15,300
26	Niel	Ortillo	Philippines	₱ 15,300
27	Alvin	Chio	Philippines	₱ 15,300
28	Renato	Pacayra	Philippines	₱ 15,300
29	Tracy	Crisostomo	Philippines	₱ 15,300
30	Jose	Drilon	Philippines	₱ 15,300
31	Cesario	Corpuz	Philippines	₱ 15,300
32	Jan Jason	Leoncio	Philippines	₱ 22,300
33	Jonathan	Dimaculangan	Philippines	₱ 13,800
34	Gerald	Ganab	Philippines	₱ 13,800
35	Janno	Alvarez	Philippines	₱ 13,800
36	Ruderico	Dela Cruz	Philippines	₱ 13,800
37	Rodrigo	Sequite	Philippines	₱ 13,800
38	Jungchul	Lee	South Korea	₱ 20,800
39	Cris	Colangoy	Philippines	₱ 13,800
40	Karen	de Castro	Philippines	₱ 13,800
41	Joseph Bartolome	Carbonell	Philippines	₱ 19,500
42	Wonjae	Lee	South Korea	₱ 12,500
43	Jefrey	Agravante	Philippines	₱ 12,500
44	Conrad	Lumaban	Philippines	₱ 12,500
45	Mark	Lorca	Philippines	₱ 12,500
46	John Carlo	Cura	Philippines	₱ 12,500
47	Wendell	Garcia	Philippines	₱ 12,500
48	Marciel	Cerbito	Philippines	₱ 12,500
49	John Jay	Magadan	Philippines	₱ 11,500
50	Conrado	Pumicpic	Philippines	₱ 11,500
51	Venoni	Paltep	Philippines	₱ 18,500
52	Pan	Yao	China	₱ 11,500
53	Emmanuel	Segismundo	Philippines	₱ 18,500
54	Jeorge	Lagatuz	Philippines	₱ 11,500
55	Hyeonjun	Gwon	South Korea	₱ 18,500
56	Gus	Perez	Philippines	₱ 11,500

Champion’s story and Main Event recap

Colada’s young live tournament career kicked off in 2020, just before the world went on lockdown, where he reached five final tables within a span of one month. During that time he bagged his first live win at the 2nd edition of Okada Manila Millions Main Event and pocketed a personal high payout of ₱ 700,000 (~US$ 13,870). 

Returning this year, Colada fired two bullets in Day 1C but failed to advance. He tried his luck at Day 1D, and this time his second bullet was the charm, closing out the heat as chip leader. 

Out of the 1,128 total entries, only 56 advanced to the final day. Just before the final two tables were formed, Philippine pro Lester Edoc fell in 19th place to China’s Yaoguo Wang with A-8 dominated throughout by A-10. Short stacked Algerico Tabacon (18th) was out next followed by pro player David Erquiaga in 17th place who bricked twice holding A-K. In turn, Erquiaga’s fall gave rise to Junnie Pamplona with nearly back to back double ups to zoom from around 10 BB to one of the chip leaders. 

Down to two tables, heavy action unfolded at 13 remaining. Luis “Don Don” Bernardo scooped up a massive pot, shoving on a turn board with flush, called by Kenzo Mendoza with straight while Wang opted to fold and show (hand pictured above). Another crazy hand was the elimination of side event champion June Brix Nuestro in 10th place with nut flush rivered by South Korea’s Ji Eon Han’s full house on a board . Colada finished off short stacked Wang in 9th place to form the final table

The final chase kicked off with Bernardo as chip leader. At five handed, a cooler sent Colada soaring with doubled up huge by Han’s . Two hands later, Colada took the rest of Han’s stack, and after a couple of hands, a four way ICM deal was struck. From there, monster stacked Colada went on to crush the rest of his opponents to secure the back to back victory and the APPT Manila Main Event seat. 

Event #1: Kickoff – Re-entry – PEE JAY ARATEA – ₱ 83,000 (~US$ 1,600)

The festival opened up featuring the ₱3K Kickoff event with 129 entries (101 uniques, 28 re-entries) to more than smash the ₱300K guarantee. The top 17 players earned a piece of the ₱ 330,343 (~US$ 6,408) prize pool. Pee Jay Aratea emerged victorious for his first known live victory. He defeated Rick Jason Ambata at heads up to collect a career high payout of ₱ 83,000 (~US$ 1,600). For runner up Ambata, he earned ₱ 56,000 and went on to place 4th at the ₱2,500 No Limit Hold’em Single re-entry for ₱ 14,000. 

Date: January 3
Buy in: ₱ 3,000 (~US$ 58)
Guarantee: ₱ 300,000 (~US$ 5,819)
Entries: 129
Prize pool: ₱ 330,343 (~US$ 6,408)
ITM: 17 places

Place	First Name	Last Name	Country	Prize
1	Pee Jay	Aratea	Philippines	₱ 83,000
2	Rick Jason	Ambata	Philippines	₱ 56,000
3	Edwin	Dela Cruz	Philippines	₱ 36,400
4	Melvin Francis	Cuevillas	Philippines	₱ 30,100
5	Proceso	Reyes	Philippines	₱ 24,400
6	Joseroy	Jeremias Jr	Philippines	₱ 19,300
7	Joseph Antonio	Toral	Philippines	₱ 14,800
8	Amiel	Uy	Philippines	₱ 11,100
9	Michael	Bueza	Philippines	₱ 8,243
10	Eduardo	Sinajon	Philippines	₱ 6,800
11	Mc Edwin	Montanes	Philippines	₱ 6,800
12	Siegfredo	Pescador	Philippines	₱ 6,000
13	Mark Harold	Carlos	Philippines	₱ 6,000
14	Jessie Renoir	Trance	Philippines	₱ 5,500
15	Jeffrey	Pardales	Philippines	₱ 5,500
16	Christopher	Gavan	Philippines	₱ 5,200
17	Jun	Talosig	Philippines	₱ 5,200

Event #14: ₱6K NLH Superstack Re-entry – WONJAE LEE – ₱ 143,400 (~US$ 2,780)

The festival closer ₱6K NLH Superstack Re-entry also offered a guarantee of ₱500K and this too was surpassed with 109 entries for a pot of ₱ 558,254 (~US$ 10,829). South Korea’s Wonjae Lee shipped it for his first known live victory and ₱ 143,400 (~US$ 2,780). He was the only non-Filipino player to win a spadie at the series. Lee also cashed at the Main Event in 42nd place for ₱ 12,500. 

Date: January 9
Buy in: ₱ 6,000
Guarantee: ₱ 500,000 (~US$ 9,698)
Entries: 109
Prize pool: ₱ 558,254 (~US$ 10,829)
ITM: 15 places 

Place	First Name	Last Name	Country	Prize
1	Wonjae	Lee	South Korea	₱ 143,400
2	Redentor	Edoc	Philippines	₱ 98,500
3	Conrad	Lumaban	Philippines	₱ 64,800
4	Pan	Yao	China	₱ 52,500
5	Jeffrey	Pamplona	Philippines	₱ 42,200
6	Rommel	Angeles	Philippines	₱ 33,000
7	Eric Roy	Andres	Philippines	₱ 26,000
8	Venoni	Paltep	Philippines	₱ 19,900
9	Marciel	Cerbito	Philippines	₱ 14,554
10	Hyeonjun	Gwon	South Korea	₱ 11,800
11	Jie	Meng	China	₱ 11,800
12	Rodrigo	Sequite	Philippines	₱ 10,400
13	Ronn Ryan	Mesina	Philippines	₱ 10,400
14	Adones	Carmona	Philippines	₱ 9,500
15	Sandro	Bruni	Italy	₱ 9,500

Other events

Event #3: ₱10K NLH Knockout Turbo Freezeout 

Date: January 3
Buy in: ₱ 10,000 (~US$ 194)
Entries: 31
Prize pool: ₱ 264,616 (~US$ 5,133) 
ITM: 5 places 
Winner: KENDRICK TAN – Philippines – ₱ 75,000 (~US$ 1,455)

2nd Mike Takayama – Philippines – ₱ 51,700
3rd Wangming Li – China – ₱ 33,000
4th Pan Yao – China – ₱ 23,900
5th Harold Neal Ruaya – Philippines – ₱ 19,016

Event #4: ₱2,500 No Limit Hold’em Single Re-entry

Date: January 4
Buy in: ₱ 2,500 (~US$ 48) 
Entries: 42
Prize pool: ₱ 89,528 (~US$ 1,737)
ITM: 6 places
Winner: JUNE BRIX NUESTRO – Philippines – ₱ 14,000* (~US$ 271)

2nd Richard Marquez –  Philippines – ₱ 19,628*
3rd Cesario Corpuz –  Philippines – ₱ 14,000*
4th Rick Jason Ambata –  Philippines – ₱ 14,000*
5th Mike Takayama –  Philippines – ₱ 14,000*
6th Joven Huerto –  Philippines – ₱ 14,000*
*Six way payout deal 

Event #5:  ₱10K NLH Turbo Freezeout 

Date: January 4
Buy in: ₱ 10,000 (~US$ 194)
Entries: 9
Prize pool: ₱ 76,824 (~US$ 1,490)
ITM: 3 places
Winner: ERIC ROY ANDRES –  Philippines – ₱ 38,500 (~US$ 747)

2nd Sandro Bruni – Italy –  ₱ 23,100
3rd Jiho Kim – South Korea –  ₱ 15,224 

Event #6:  ₱2,500 PLO Knockout [Bounty  ₱500] – Single re-entry 

Date: January 6 
Buy in: ₱ 2,500 (~US$ 48)
Entries: 43
Prize pool: ₱ 91,672 (~US$ 1,778)
ITM: 6 places
Winner: RAPHAEL BERROYA BULAONG – Philippines – ₱ 16,600 (~US$ 322)

2nd Namsoo Lee – South Korea –  ₱ 23,900
3rd Jody Kitchen – Canada –  ₱ 10,600
4th Rodrigo Sequite –  Philippines – ₱ 8,100
5th Nicholas John Woodward – UK –  ₱ 6,400
6th Arnel Casquejo –  Philippines – ₱ 4,662   

Event #7:  ₱10K NLH Turbo – Single re-entry

Date: January 5 
Buy in: ₱ 10,000 (~US$ 194)
Entries: 8
Prize pool: ₱ 68,288 (~US$ 1,325)
ITM: 3 places 
Winner: EDGAR ASEHAN –  Philippines – ₱ 34,200 (~US$ 663)

2nd Harold Neal Ruaya –  Philippines – ₱ 20,500
3rd Eden Dailo –  Philippines – ₱ 13,588

Event #8: ₱5K NLH Shot Clock – Single Re-entry

Date: January 6
Buy in: ₱ 5,000 (~US$ 97)
Entries: 33
Prize pool: ₱ 140,844 (~US$ 2,732)
ITM: 7 places 
Winner: JEFFREY PAMPLONA – Philippines – ₱ 20,844* (~US$ 404)

2nd Edwin Dela Cruz – Philippines – ₱ 20,000*
3rd Rodrigo Sequite – Philippines – ₱ 20,000*
4th Ronald Gorgonia – Philippines – ₱ 20,000*
5th Mike Takayama – Philippines – ₱ 20,000*
6th Emmanuel Segismundo – Philippines – ₱ 20,000*
7th Christopher Mateo – Philippines – ₱ 20,000*
*Seven way payout deal

Event #9: ₱10K NLH Hyper Turbo – Single re-entry 

Date: January 6 
Buy in: ₱ 10,000 (~US$ 194)
Entries: 8
Prize pool: ₱ 68,288 (~US$ 1,325)
ITM: 3 places
Winner: RONN RYAN MESINA – Philippines – ₱ 34,200 (~US$ 663)

2nd Sandro Bruni – Italy – ₱ 20,500
3rd Jeff Legarda – Philippines – ₱ 13,588

Event #10: ₱10K NLH Knockout [Bounty ₱5K] – Single re-entry

Date: January 7
Buy in: ₱ 10,000 (~US$ 194)
Entries: 22
Prize pool: ₱ 187,792 (~US$ 3,643)
ITM: 4 places
Winner: RICARDO TORRES – Philippines – ₱ 32,700 (~US$ 634)

2nd Anthony Castro – Philippines – ₱ 21,800
3rd Wendell Garcia – Philippines – ₱ 14,100
4th Ken How Voo – Malaysia – ₱ 9,192

Event #11: ₱20K NLH Shot Clock 

Date: January 7 
Buy in: ₱ 20,000 (~US$ 388)
Entries: 10
Prize pool: ₱ 174,600 (~US$ 3,387)
ITM: 3 places
Winner:  FLORENCIO CAMPOMANES – Philippines – ₱ 73,350 (~US$ 1,423)

2nd Alan Honyin Tsang – USA – ₱ 66,250
3rd Edgar Asehan – Philippines – ₱ 35,000

Event #12: ₱15K NLH Freezeout

Date: January 8
Buy in: ₱ 15,000 (~US$ 291)
Entries: 8
Prize pool: ₱ 104,760 (~US$ 2,032)
ITM: 3 places
Winner: ROMMEL DONES – Philippines – ₱ 52,260 (~US$ 1,013)

2nd Arthur Soliano – Canada – ₱ 31,500
3rd Ronald Gorgonia – Philippines – ₱ 21,000 

Event #15: ₱8K NLH Freezeout 

Date: January 9
Buy in: ₱ 8,000 (~US$ 155)
Players: 19
Prize pool: ₱ 129,747 (~US$ 2,517)
ITM: 4 places
Winner: HAROLD NEAL RUAYA – Philippines – ₱ 45,000

2nd Emmanuel Segismundo – Philippines – ₱ 34,650
3rd Michael Manlapaz – Philippines – ₱ 34,650
4th Mansour Khorramsh – Iran – ₱ 15,447

Up next for PokerStars LIVE Manila

PokerStars LIVE Manila plans to return next month with the Manila Super Series running on February 20 to 27 however due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the country, it remains subject to regulatory approval. Following that event, also awaiting the green light are APPT Open Manila which is scheduled for March 22 to 28, and the highly popular APPT Manila scheduled for July 29 to August 7. For those planning to attend, Covid-19 vaccination is required to enter the premises. Stay tuned for more updates.