Cruz rules Metro freeroll, wins Fortuner

MANILA, Philippines - Jeffrey Cruz outlasted 153 players to emerge champion in the Metro Card Club Triple Treat Freeroll poker tournament at the Metro Card Club in Ortigas Wednesday.

The feat earned Cruz a brand-new Toyota Fortuner, the top prize in the biggest freeroll in Philippine poker history.

Cruz defeated Jonathan Morales in the heads-up play to seal the victory in the tournament exclusive for players who had accumulated at least 300 hours of playing in the cash game at the premier card room in the country.

Morales settled for runner-up honors and a Toyota Altis while another Metro regular Jimmie Javier also drove home a brand-new Toyota Vios for finishing third.

Besides the three cars, the Metro Card Club also gave away P1-million cash to the rest of the qualifiers with John Philip Baider finishing fourth worth P220,000 and Ernie Batalla getting P120,000 for placing fifth.

Rounding up the final table were Rico dela Cruz (P70,000), Ed Peralta (P50,000), Faustino Dy IV (P35,000), Jojo Llorca (P25,000) and Tyrone Lim (P20,000). The rest of the qualifiers earned at least P2,000.

Currently, the Metro Card Club has the “One for All, All for One” promo, wherein players who can accumulate 100 hours of playing cash games from Sept. 1-30 will qualify in a freeroll tournament with a total pot of P1-million.