UAAP champion CJ Cansino is staying patient as he attempts to rise through the ranks in the PBA with the Meralco Bolts.
Charging up.
Former UP Fighting Maroons captain CJ Cansino is simply biding his time as he gets his opportunities sparingly in his rookie year in the PBA, playing for the Meralco Bolts in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup.
As he ventured into a new role as a TV star in the 6-episode limited series “Rebound” on Pilipinas Live, Cansino expressed his content at how his professional career has been shaping up so far – even if he hasn’t had the stats to show it.
[Related: Meralco's CJ Cansino explores more personal side to hoops career in new Pilipinas Live series]
“Well, I’m very happy sa tinatakbo ng career ko. Hindi man maganda in terms of stats, pero nae-earn ko na yung tiwala ni coach Nenad, yung mga coaching staff sa Meralco Bolts,” said Cansino.
The start to his PBA career seemed very timely in relation to Rebound’s pilot episode, which also talked about how Cansino slowly but surely found his footing in his basketball journey.
The pilot episode that premiered on Pilipinas Live last Monday, September 15, was highlighted by UP’s run to the championship, where Cansino played a key role even as he suffered an ACL injury in Game 2 of the series against Ateneo back in UAAP Season 84.
But just as he recovered from his initial struggles – even when he was starting out as a player in Valenzuela City, the young guard said that he knows that it’s not all going to fit right into place immediately.
“Yun din naman yung pinaka-goal ko this season, to earn minutes [and the trust of my coaches],” said Cansino.
“Siguro [duon na] susunod na yung stats,” he added.
Cansino joins an upbeat Meralco squad that recently won its first-ever PBA championship during the Philippine Cup earlier this year.
Having his own championship experience with the UP Fighting Maroons, Cansino will hope to contribute more to the Bolts when his career goes on.
Cansino joins forces in Meralco with the likes of Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero, Brandon Bates, Allein Maliksi, and Cliff Hodge, among others.
For the Governors’ Cup, the Bolts are through to the quarterfinals, powered by returning import Allen Durham.
Prior to joining Meralco in the PBA, Cansino played with the Iloilo United Royals in the MPBL. During his final year with UP, Cansino and the Fighting Maroons finished runner-up to the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 86 championship.
CJ Cansino’s “Rebound” will premiere new episodes every Monday on the Pilipinas Live app.