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A 3-Time Champion is crowned at the Fraternity’s only running Poker Tournament by Raffy Hidalgo, Sep. 3, 2011
It was at the Makati Sports Club at the heart of the business district where the Caloy Agulto ’74 Invitational Tournament was held.
The fundraiser sponsored by Brod Caloy was a No-Limit Texas Holdem Poker Tournament featuring an odd mix of poker tournament veterans from the OBBF, brods from everywhere, casino pros, guests- including one from another fraternity, rank amateurs and a lone Sigma Betan.
Over 50 were present as spectators and players. The action was fast and furious for the 4 tables and within the first hour, Brods Nilo Punzalan ’73, Dan Noveno ’77 San Beda, Jason Justo ’92 and guest Hap Junghan took an early lead. At the start of the second hour of play, former two-time Champion Rafael Hidalgo ’86 crashed out in a heap of expletives followed closely by the untimely exit of other ex-champions Migs Alo ’03 and Leo Robel ’95.
Morris Tuason ’87 however had the most spectacular self-destruction of the evening, pumping in P4,000 and throwing all of it Jason’s way in a span of 15 minutes. Smiling all the way, Morris hardly flinched at his quick donation.
After nearly 4 hours of play, the final table of the last 8 players standing set their sights on the P17,500 cash prize pool. It included, holdem poker casino regulars Jun Bagunu and Dan Noveno, guests Hap Junghan and Manny Baldeo of Beta Epsilon, and OBBF regulars, including its President Lloyd Dizon ’87, OBBF Representative Director to the UPBSF International Jason Justo ’92, Jerry Bongco ’94, Manoy Gomez ’92, and newly elected UPBSF International Director Dennis Belmonte ’86.
Only 30 minutes after the posterity shots of the final players, half were knocked out leaving four brods, Lloyd, Manoy, Dennis and Jason against the tournament chip leader and Beta Epsilon Manny Baldeo. The outsider held his own against the heckling Beta Sigma dominated spectators who were literally crowding his back and looking over his shoulders. But the 4 remaining brods, veterans of the OBBF poker tour were professional and didn’t gang up on the lone outsider. They knocked out each other, Manoy leaving first, then Jason, followed by 3rd placer Dennis.
One on one it was Beta Sigma versus Beta Epsilon.
They slugged it out toe to toe, and finally the OBBF President emerged victorious. Not only did Lloyd vanquish the outsider, but he wrested the distinction of being the first 3-time winner of the tournament that has played twice a year for the past four years.
All those present vowed revenge.
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