By: JC Ricarte
CJ Cansino and Juan Gomez de Liaño have been connected by basketball long before the bright lights of the PBA.
One wore yellow, the other maroon.
The two carved a name for themselves in the UAAP’s high school boys’ division, constantly testing each other on opposite ends of the court.
Even in UAAP Season 82 — the sole year they faced off in the collegiate men’s division — the two stood out, being dubbed as the league’s “triple-double” boys.
Today, Cansino and Gomez de Liaño are writing new chapters, this time in the PBA.
In their first-ever showdown last Sunday, during Meralco’s 104-85 win over Converge, both former Fighting Maroons showcased how much they’ve grown and matured.
Cansino dropped a career-high 29 points to help the Bolts extend their winning streak to three and secure a quarterfinals spot in the PBA Philippine Cup, while also defending his fellow former Maroon heavily in the fourth quarter.
Buoyed by Cansino’s surge over his last three outings — which earned him the recent Player of the Week honors with averages of 23.7 points and 5.7 rebounds — Meralco has climbed from near the cellar to a 6-4 tie with Converge and the NLEX Road Warriors, boosting their hopes for a Top 4 finish and a coveted twice-to-beat advantage.
(C) PBA Images
“I’m happy kasi since high school magkalaban na kami ni Juan. ‘Yung off-season workouts namin kasi very competitive… Pagdating sa skills training namin sa Better, lalo na ‘yung mga one-on-one drills,” said Cansino.
But while the rising sophomore came out on top, Gomez de Liaño proved his worth as well, notching 27 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the matchup.
The Rookie of the Year front-runner expressed nothing but pride seeing his State U teammate — who overcame two ACL injuries — finally finding his touch this season.
“There’s a special pride when you see a fellow Fighting Maroon doing well. We know the work and sacrifices it takes to reach this level. It represents the program and everyone who helped shape us,” said Gomez de Liaño.
“It elevated my game by forcing me to be more consistent and detail-oriented,” he added, referring to their off-season training at Better Basketball PH with skills coach and founder Patrick Tancioco.
Both players would start as early as 9:00 AM, working on shooting, defensive reads, and ball-handling fundamentals that have made them standouts from the UAAP to the PBA.
Posting just 8.7 points in his rookie year, Cansino credits those early-morning sessions for his leap in his second season.
“[Ang best improvement ko] is reading kung when is the best time to take the shot. Kasi minsan akala ko eto na yung best shot pero nakadepende padin sa scenario,” said Cansino, who now leads Meralco in scoring with 19.0 points per game.
For Gomez de Liaño, his international experience has helped him emerge as a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, averaging 19.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.
“Playing internationally gave me a broader perspective of the game. It taught me to adapt quickly, respect different styles, and stay mentally tough no matter the situation. As a ‘rookie’ in the PBA, I know the details matter a lot at this level,” said Gomez de Liano, who previously played for Tokyo Z, Wolves BC, and Seoul SK before getting drafted in the PBA.
