She was a member of all three tribes, went to every single tribal council and never found a hidden immunity idol during her 39 days on Survivor: Philippines, yet Denise Stapley of Iowa was still able to outwit, outlast and outplay all the other contestants to become this season's sole Survivor. She sat beside Lisa Welchel and Michael Skupin in the final and when the votes were tallied, the jury felt Stapley played a better game than both Welchel and Skupin. I recently spoke to the final three contestants to get their view on how this season's game played out.

'Survivor: Philippines' nearing an end

Late in the game, Abi-Maria Gomes, 32, of Los Angeles, California learned she was the most disliked player in this season's 'Survivor:Philippines'. But with the help of a hidden immunity idol, an alliance, and a little luck, this outspoken Brazilian managed to hang in the game until this week.

Malcolm, Denise, Lisa and Skupin all talked about the strategic advantages of keeping Gomes around to the end, but at tribal council the final four unified and unanimously wrote her name down as the next player to go home. I recently spoke with Gomes who shared what viewers saw throughout the show was just one layer of Abi-Maria.

For the fifth week in a row, one of the male contestants on Survivor: Philippines was sent packing. Twenty four year old Carter Williams of Kansas had nowhere to hide at tribal council after he failed to win immunity. He and Abi were the only players on the island not in an alliance with anyone. Viewers watched as Williams desperately scrambled to try and convince Skupin, Malcolm, Denise and Lisa to keep him over Abi. But the remaining players agreed he was just too likable and strong to remain in the game. I recently spoke with Williams who was bummed he missed out on the million dollar prize.

From the start of the season, Survivor Philippines has been swarmed in controversy since the show's producers decided to let three previously medically evacuated players from past seasons have the opportunity to return to the game for a chance to finish what they started. Those returnees include 50-year-old Jonathan Penner of Survivor: Cook Islands and Survivor: Micronesia fame, 50-year-old Michael Skupin of Survivor: Australian Outback and 45-year-old Russell Swan of Survivor: Samoa.

If there was ever a divide among the players of 'Survivor: Philippines', it was made known last week - Abi and her ally, Pete, against everyone else. That divide was made evidently clear to viewers when Abi and the three younger players won the reward challenge which consisted of a spa day and island buffet; something Abi continued to gloat about upon returning to camp where the remaining contestants were filling their bellies with nothing but rice. However, the very vocal L.A. resident was able to dodge elimination for one more week during tribal council, but the same could not be said for 24-year-old Pete Yurkowski of New Jersey.

Artis Silvester of Louisiana beat cancer and survived divorce but that luck didn't follow him into the game of 'Survivor'. The 53-year-old aligned himself with fellow Tandang members Pete and Abi-Maria while tribe mates Lisa Whelchel and Survivor returnee Mike Skupin opened themselves up to the possibility of voting with the remaining players, unbeknownst to Silvester.

Jeff Kent of Texas has seen his fair share of competition over the years while playing baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers. But despite his experience, this retired 44-year-old athlete couldn't prevent his tribe mates from voting him off the island during the CBS hit reality show, 'Survivor.' 

Kent started the season on the Kalabaw tribe which was able to avoid tribal council until the teams merged. During this week's episode, returning player Jonathan Penner won individual immunity, protecting him from being voted off. Contestants also learned that both Malcolm and Abi-Maria had hidden immunity idols in their possession which quickly left the remaining players scrambling to determine who among them should be sent home. The team eventually decided the athletic and competitive Kent should exit the game. I recently spoke with Kent who now becomes the second member of the jury on Survivor: Philippines. Here's what he had to say. 

With only two contestants left on the Matsing tribe, the producers of Survivor: Philippines had no other alternative than to split the two players up and place each of them on one of the remaining tribes. So, Malcolm and Denise drew buffs to reveal which tribe would be their new "family." Malcolm selected Tandang's color, while Denise drew Kalabaw red.

With the tribes evenly matched - seven verses seven, they were given their first reward challenge, which Tandang won. Shortly after returning to their respective camps, the rain set in and Kalabaw's Dana Lambert continued to fall ill as the hours passed by. The show's medical team was brought in but didn't deem her condition life threatening. However, the 32-year-old spit fire from South Carolina felt she was just too sick to continue on and opted to leave the game.

The 25th season of 'Survivor' is already becoming predictable. For the third week in a row, viewers watched as the Kalabaw and Tandang tribes dominated the immunity challenge, leaving the Matsing tribe to face tribal council once again. With just four players remaining on that tribe, the choices of who to send home were limited. Both Russell Swan and Angie Layton offered very little during the challenge, but when confronted both claimed they were more valuable than the other and should remain in the game.

The Matsing tribe could really use a win. The tribe of five was reduced to just four players after losing its second straight immunity challenge on the CBS reality show 'Survivor: Philippines'.

Roxy Morris of Brooklyn, New York tried convincing teammates Russell Swan and Denise Stanley that Angie needed to be sent home because she and fellow tribe mate Malcolm were getting too close. During the second episode, viewers saw the duo often cuddling at night in the camp which annoyed Morris. However, that wasn't enough to convince the remaining members to write down Angie's name. Instead, the team unanimously voted Roxy off the island; ultimately ending her chances to win the one million dollar prize.