As CJ Cansino stood at center court of the SMART Araneta Coliseum last Monday, he looked around the 20,000-plus crowd — half of which were crying tears of joy while the other side was weeping as a season once full of promise ended up in second place.
Unlike 220 days prior to UAAP Season 85’s Game Three, Cansino and University of the Philippines were on the losing side while his archrival Dave Ildefonso finally got one.
Unlike the last time out, Cansino could not help the Fighting Maroons as he did during the historic Game Three of Season 84 as he was just months into his recovery from an ACL surgery.
“Siyempre masakit kasi natalo kami sa Finals pero ganyan talaga ang buhay,” said the 23-year-old winger, who was supposed to play his final UAAP season this year but had to extend due to redshirting this season.
And as he waved to the UP fans for one last time this season, he promised them one thing.
“Dagdag motivation ito para makabawi kami for the next season and I hope madala ko kung anuman yung puwede kong maitulong next season.”
This UP team though will be different from the one Cansino will lead in Season 86.
Gone are Zav Lucero, Henry Galinato, and team captain Brix Ramos. Reserves AJ Madrigal and CJ Catapusan have already exhausted their playing years as well.
Cansino knows that next year will be tough.
But with the likes of Reyland Torres and Janjan Felicilda also coming in, the Fighting Maroons will be pitbulls — underdogs that will have more fight than bark.
And he is ready to fight for UP one last time.
“Sobrang tiwala ko sa teammates ko na alam nila yung kaya nilang gawin,” said Cansino, who is expected to return to being the team’s skipper next year.
“Yung mga natira, kaya nilang punan yung kulang sa amin for the next season and I hope magkaroon kami ng successful na season.”
