FORMER billiards pro Mike Takayama and renowned international campaigner Gerardo “Jay” Lubas lead a versatile selection that will represent the Philippines in the inaugural World Poker Tour (WPT) Nations Challenge tournament presented by Solar Sports tomorrow at Solaire Resort and Casino.
Teams from Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China and possibly Vietnam, Australia and even the United States will be competing in this unique team event that pits country versus country. A trophy akin to the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Stanley Cup will be up for grabs.
Takayama, who learned the sport only five years ago, is now the reigning champion of the Asian Poker Tour (APT).
Lubas is best known for being the two-day overall chip leader in the 2012 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Others on the squad are Mark Benasa, Martin Corpus, Jay Tolon, Andrew Gaw and Rivera siblings Czardy, Marc and Euryd.