It has been a year and 11 days since CJ Cansino faced Ateneo de Manila University in a basketball game, and it was the last time the all-around guard played in a competitive environment before he was diagnosed with another ACL injury.
Since then, the now-captain of University of the Philippines has undergone an operation, rehabilitation, and has slowly been getting back his groove on the court.
On Wednesday, against the new-look Blue Eagles, Cansino showed up and led the team to a 95-70 bounce-back win in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
Cansino ended with 14 points on four-of-six shooting from behind the arc, along with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
He was just happy that the Fighting Maroons returned to winning ways after two straight, stinging losses in the tournament against Adamson University and De La Salle University.
“‘Yung losses, syempre masakit, lalo na kapag natalo kami, kalaban mo from UAAP. Pero lagi naman naming sinasabi sa mga players na kailangan naming i-maximize ‘yung experience namin lalo na this preseason,” he said.
“‘Yun yung hindi namin masyadong napaintindi the past few games kaya kung anu-ano ‘yung mga nangyayari sa loob. Pero masaya kami ngayon kasi ngayon naintindihan na nila yung kailangan ilabas ‘kung ano ‘yung meron kami para mag-level up kami sa kung ano man ‘yung kailangan naming trabahuhin sa next game.”
Despite this being a preseason duel between the two rival squads, Cansino admitted being extra motivated to finally face Ateneo again after missing UAAP Season 85 but still absorbing that taste of defeat against them in the same season’s championship run.
“Hindi ko naman maikakaila na, alam mo ‘yun, na Ateneo ‘yung kalaban namin at tinalo kami,” the pride of Valenzuela said.
“Andoon ‘yung thoughts na, kailangan ‘pag gising ko nang maaga, kailangan maganda ‘yung gising ko, kailangan tama lahat nang ginagawa ko, kasi para madala ko sa game eventually kasi Ateneo ‘to eh.”
