SOUTHEAST Asian (SEA) Games 2017 judo champion Filipino-Japanese Mariya Takahashi, whose mother LynLyn is from Mapawa, Maragusan in Compostela Valley (Comval), will make her 18th Asian Games debut on Thursday.

The 17-year-old ace, who arrived in Indonesia Sunday, will compete in the women's -70-kilogram division.

Mariya, through her mother, said she had to comply some requirements of a university where she will be studying in college before leaving for Jakarta.

“Na-pressure siya kasi nahirapan siyang pumili ng course kung ano po yung maganda na maipatuloy parin nya ang kanyang judo,” the Comval native said.

Her daughter decided to enroll at the Kogakkan University next year although she had to submit requirements this early.

Mariya said she underwent hard training every day in Japan to prepare for her first stint in the quadriennial Games.

Lynlyn added, “Wala naman syang sinabi kung nervous ba sya pero ready po syang maglaro.” (MLSA0