SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Filipina-Japanese bet Mariya Takahashi defended her title in Southeast Asian Games, winning gold in the -70 category in women’s judo on Friday at Laus Event Group.

Takahashi defeated Thai judoka Surattana Thongsri via ippon with a minute and 56 seconds left in the clock.
Takahashi said through a translator: "I'm very happy because this is my second medal in the SEA Games, That Indonesian matchup was difficult but thankfully, I pulled through in the second round through hard work."
Meanwhile, in the -90kg category, Carl Aseneta kicked out Lao's Khamxay Vongphachanh with an ippon with just 2:10 left to nab bronze while 18-year-old John Ferrer, the youngest in team PH, beat Vietnam's Hoang Duong Nguyen to secure another 3rd place finish in the -100kg.
As a first-timer in the SEA Games, Ferrer struggled dealing with the pressure being surrounded by the best judokas in the region.
"Nung una sobrang nara-rattle ako, pero nagagamay ko na but andun pa rin yung kaba," he said. "Nakatulong sa akin yung crowd, 'yung suporta ng mga teammates ko, mga kamag-anak ko, sabi ko hindi dapat magpatalo kasi bansa natin 'to eh."
Shin Mastumara also ousted Singapore's Chian via golden score to add another bronze for the Philippines.
Another bronze medal from the women's play is Ryoko Salinas' ippon at 2:27 mark, defeating Malaysia's Nor Izzatul.
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