Interview: “Dave Sa Umaga, Spiderman Sa Gabi” – 2026 PPT Main Event Champion

David Erquiaga climbed from behind at heads up to clinch the Philippine Poker Tournament Main Event. The victory earned him a cool ₱1,100,000, the lone seven-figure payout from the record ₱7,062,000 prize pool.

In a post-win interview, Erquiaga opened up about his strategy, experience, and spider-sense reads that carried him all the way to the top, finally turning close calls into a long-awaited first Metro major title.

How does it feel to finally win your first metro major title?

Grateful parin kahit hindi sobrang laki ng prize pag nanalo ka kasi big field sa Metro para kang nanalo ng WSOP ring sa local scene. Fullfilling.

You’ve won many titles throughout your career, why did this first metro win take much longer than the rest?

Konti lang kasi volume ko sa Metro, madalas may kasabay na international series. Pero pag wala lagi naman ako naka supporta sa local tourneys, hindi alam ng mga bago sa poker isa rin akong pioneer Metro grinder or Batang Metro.

Photo: PPT Main Event Final 9 Players

Entering the final day as chip leader, what was your strategy to reach the final table? 

Chip leader ako Day 3 kaso I lost half of my stack versus Paul when he hit his 33 set against my JJ sa 9-2-3 rainbow board. Luckily I was able to preserve my stack and navigate hanggang mag FT.

My FT strategy was pretty simple – play solid ICM with a little bit of exploit based on player tendencies. I studied different spots before but meron adjustment lagi sa Metro field lalo na iba yung FT with regular ante, to be specific yung BB defend mo can be tighter than what you are supposed to defend sa 1bb/ante format.

Photo: David Erquiaga

At the final table, you were in the middle of the pack, what was your strategy seeing that everyone was aggressive? 

I think I adjusted pretty well against most of them and I have a very specific strategy kada player from preflop until river, iba ang galaw, at pati bet sizing ko naka depende sa kalaban lahat. You can call it flexible strategy but solid strategy.

You also had position over Moe and Rowell, both played very aggressive, how was that for you seeing that you had position?

Aggro players on my right will always be in trouble kasi eto yung laman ng GTO drills/simulation ko siguro if itranslate mo siya in real-life # of hands, worth 5-6 years of playing the same spots. Nakakaumay pero that’s how you improve same like other sports.

What went through your mind when you decided to call with pocket jacks that eliminated Paul?

Starting Day 2 I have a live read on him when he had it or not. Actually 50/50 spot siya if sa online kame nag laban. Pero since live yun, medyo nag leaning towards call ako based sa spider sense ko. Ako nga pla si dave sa umaga spiderman sa gabi haha.

Photo: Moses Saquing

By 6-handed, you, Moe, and Rowell held the top three spots until the end. You surged far ahead after eliminating Marc Rivera, then it dropped to three-handed fast. What was your strategy at this stage? And what did you need to do to get to heads up?

Six-handed, three-handed, and heads up strategies were totally different kasi aggro mga kalaban ko. But 3-handed medyo nag adjust ako marami ako limp kasi alam ko tendency ni Moe and I play postflop cautiously. Luckily may live tell si Moe preflop kasi medyo na exploit ko yun.

Closing out a tournament applies a different skill set. You see plenty of hands. Aside from game changer hands Q-5 flush vs K-5 top pair and 9-6 bluff push vs K-J, what did it take for you to overcome Rowell at heads up? He was very aggressive and you even dropped to 4:1. 

Photo: Rowell Ama At Heads Up

Sa tingin ko yung edge ko is ngayon sa lahat ng poker players is yung conditioning ko. If dalhin mo ako now sa WSOP may chance manalo. Hindi sa nagyayabang pero alam namin kasi if maganda and laro at walang ibang iniisip kundi yung baraha at kalaban lang sa harap mo. Also, I think my intuition improves like x5 than few years ago. Naka bukas na ang 3rd eye ko boys so try not to bluff me too much! lol

What would you say was your best move throughout the entire tournament? An unforgettable hand?

Day 2 my bluff catch rate was 100% 4-0. I don’t know why they always try to bluff me but I was lucky to have made the right decisions.

Day 3 was the JJ vs Paul and A2 bluff vs Moe was crucial kasi doon pwede ako mag kamali and ma cripple.

What would you say was your worst move throughout the entire tournament?

Calling off my JJ vs Paul’s 20+ishbb check-jam sa 9-2-3- rainbow flop sa early stage ng Day 3. Alam ko nang 33, cinall ko pa. Pinilit kong ilagay sa hand na tatalunin ko.

PPT Main Event Results

The 7th edition of the Metro Card Club‘s homegrown Philippine Poker Tournament drew 1,320 Main Event entries across six flights with 188 players earning a cut of the record-breaking ₱7,062,000 ($121,800) prize pool.

Congratulations to David Erquiaga for his victory and to all the players that reached the money round. You can relive the final table action via the recorded feed via the Metro FB PPT livestream.

Date: February 11-16, 2026
Buy-in: ₱6,000 ($100)
Guarantee: ₱5,000,000 ($86,260)
Entries: 1,320
Prize pool: ₱7,062,000 ($121,800)
ITM: 188 players

PPT Main Event: All The Numbers

Final Day Results

Suya Lee Reigns At The Single Day High Roller

Photo: Suya Lee

The ₱33,000 buy-in Single Day High Roller event drew a tight yet formidable field of 32 runners, with only five players slicing into the ₱1,000,000 guarantee. Stacked with seasoned contenders and decorated pros, South Korea’s Suya Lee outlasted the local heavyweights to capture the title and the ₱407,400 top prize.

1st Suya Lee – ₱407,400
2nd Edilberto Gopez Jr. – ₱242,500
3rd William Ysmael – ₱145,500
4th Benigno Ledina – ₱97,000
5th Martin Astorga – ₱77,600

Bea Garcia Wins The Deep Stack

Photo: Bea Garcia

Another record breaker at the side events with the Deep Stack 200K GTD pot nearly doubling up. Attracting 150 (93 unique) entries at ₱3,000 each, the prize pool ballooned to ₱384,750. During the late night hours, Bea Garcia emerged victorious to seize one of the last trophies on the shelf along with a sweet payout of ₱97,050.

Dek Cruz Claims Last Side Trophy At The Closer

Photo: Federick Cruz

Federick Cruz wasted no time proving he was a worthy addition to the Metro Team Pro roster, stringing together multiple deep runs throughout the series with a victory on the final day. Cruz wrapped up The Closer event, which crushed its ₱300,000 guarantee after attracting 149 entries for a richer ₱536,400 prize pool. He claimed the last trophy on the mantle and pocketed the ₱129,580 champion’s prize.