CJ Cansino refused to make excuses after Meralco bowed out of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals following a painful collapse versus TNT on Wednesday.
The sophomore wing was full of regret after the Bolts failed to extend the series to at least one more game, as they coughed up a five-point lead with 20 seconds left to play and eventually fell to a heartbreaking 96-99 decision.
“Hindi ko pwedeng excuse na bata ako eh,” he lamented shortly after Game 5 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Andun na eh. Andun na. Sobrang regret din.”
Cansino starred for his side with a career-high 36 points, 17 of which he made in the fourth quarter alone. He willingly asserted himself on offense in the match that became a war of attrition between two banged-up squads.
That included a tough pull-up jumper against the solid defense of Simon Enciso, which pushed their lead to 95-91 with 43.1 seconds remaining.
(C) PBA Images
Soon, it would become a 96-91 gap behind a split from the line by Cliff Hodge, giving the impression that they were about to push the battle to a Game 6.
But the game can change quickly. The Tropang 5G staged a miraculous comeback shortly after, with Jordan Heading and Rey Nambatac coming through with the biggest of plays to put them ahead suddenly, 97-96.
Cansino had chances to save Meralco, as the team went to him since he was having himself a game. However, he was denied on his two tries, thanks to the defense of the bigger Calvin Oftana.
The final horn then sounded after his attempt from deep missed, marking the crushing end to their run — and to his first-ever PBA semis appearance.
As frustrating as it was, the 26-year-old is charging all of it to experience, believing that the series will only help him grow moving forward.
“Mabigat, pero sobrang teaching moment sa akin ‘to,” he said. “Sobrang laking opportunity na binigay sa akin, na matuto ako sa ganitong bagay.
“Although hindi man namin nakuha ‘yung panalo. Pero on the good side, on the positive side, talagang sobrang laki ng tinuro sa akin ng semis na ‘to.”
#WATCH: TEACHING MOMENT 🏀
Despite his late-game error, CJ Cansino is keeping his head up, charging it to experience#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/V2TYTORMFn
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/VzOCZdBWXi
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 14, 2026
