He is on his final playing year in the UAAP.
Injuries always suck. It derails athletes’ careers and destroys them at worst. Whether or not you’re rooting for his or her squad doesn’t matter, no one wants to see a player get hurt. Only an absolutely vile individual would wish physical harm on a person who does sports for a living.
That being said, there is one good thing that comes out of an injury. What is it? Comeback stories. College hoops fans might just see one of those in the fast-approaching Season 86 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament. After suffering his second ACL tear, UP Fighting Maroons guard CJ Cansino is gearing up for a roaring return.
“Pangalawang ACL [injury] ko na ‘to. So, ‘yung mga natutunan ko ‘nung unang ACL ko, ginamit ko ‘yun as experience para sa recovery ko. Naging patient ako kahit gusting-gusto ko na maglaro,” the former UAAP juniors MVP told One Sports.
“Sobrang hirap pero nagtiwala lang ako kay God and nagtiwala ako sa trabahong ginagawa ko,” he added.
Cansino has been hampered by knee problems in his collegiate career, both with the UST Growling Tigers and UP. In Season 85, he didn’t suit up at all for the Diliman-based squad as he focused on recovery. Before that, he came cup clutch, while visibly hurt, in the final game of Season 84 to help the Fighting Maroons capture the title.
In his return, which would be his last playing year in the UAAP, the UP captain is looking to leave his mark by inspiring the next generation.
“Kunwari may bata, [gusto kong masabi niya], ‘Si CJ nga na-ACL ng dalawang beses pero nakabalik.’ Gano’n ‘yung gusto kong maging mark sa UAAP,” said Cansino.
"Hindi hadlang ‘yung injury, hindi hadlang kung anumang problema ‘yung dumating sa buhay mo basta mangarap ka lang at magtrabaho ka lang,” he stressed.
Cansino and the Fighting Maroons squad have been getting ready, eager to make a return to the finals and recapture the crown.
Season 86 of the UAAP is set to kick off on September 30.
(With reports from Julio Gabriel, One Sports Digital)
(GM)