SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Mariya Takahashi led a five medal-effort for the Philippine judoka contingent by successfully defending her title in the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the LausGroup Event Center here.
Takahashi, who won her first gold in the 2017 edition of the games held in Malaysia, made quick work of Thailand's Suratrana Thongsri in the -70kg division via ippon at the 1:56 mark.
The 18-year-old successfully recovered from an opening round loss at the hands of Indonesia's Gusti Kahihara, which beat the Filipina via waza-ari. Thongsri was not able to seize a gold after failing to beat Kahihara via ippon, which would have put her over Takahashi in the scorecards.
Takahashi joined Kiyomi Watanabe and Shugen Nakano, both of whom clinched big wins last Dec. 5. in the gold medal tally for the Philippines.
"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," Takahashi said through a translator.
Carl Dave Aseneta nabbed the team's first bronze of the day by beating Laos' Khamxay Vongphachanh via ippon with 2:10 left in an emotional win in the -90kg division. The two-time UAAP gold medalist, who was emotional after the clincher, said this was his way of redeeming himself after struggling to make weight and falling in his first match due to exhaustion.
"I was really chasing the catchweight. I was at 94 kilos when I came back from training abroad. So when I made weight, I really tried to stay there," he said. "I was shaking in my first match and I was really week. My morale was low. But my coaches told me I had to bounce back, that this was my last chance so I just did everything I could."
That was followed up by a last-ditch effort by John Viron Ferrer, who won via golden score against Vietnam's Hoang Duong Nguyen for a third-place finish in the -100 event.
Ferrer, a four-time high school champion in the UAAP, said he'll look to post a stellar outing in his first year in college with the UP Fighting Maroons to maintain his status as one of the country's best.
"I was just rattled initially, but I got more comfortable as the fights came. This was just beginner's luck for me-all our opponents were more exposed," he said. "I should be better in the UAAP. There's pressure. I have to be ready."
Ryoko Salinas joined in by snaring a bronze in the +78kg via ippon with 2:27 left against Malaysia's Nor Izzatul Tahir Mohamad, while Shin Matsumura wrapped up the Philippine campaign with a golden score win against Singapore's Jian Che in the +100kg event.
"I really wanted to win a gold, but I was only able to get this one. I'm really sorry. I'm going to be better next time, for sure," Salinas said through a translator.
"Next time, I'm gonna try to get that gold medal. I'm still very happy I won because this is my first time competing at this level," Matsumura shared.
Thailand and Indonesia dominated day 3 with two golds apiece. I Ge Wardana and Gede Soethama cruised to first place in the +100 and -100 divisions, while Thonthan Satjadet and Ikumi Okeda both topped the +78 and -78 classes.
The final day of judo could hold more medals for the Philippine team, which is now bannering three golds, a silver and seven bronzes, as men and women's teams are set to compete in team events.