Cansino set to transfer to UP

From L-R: Bo Perasol, CJ Cansino, Atty. Ags Uvero

All eyes in the Philippine sporting world in the past couple of days centered on collegiate basketball, about a sudden departure and a quick commitment.

CJ Cansino formally made his decision to transfer from the University of Santo Tomas to the University of the Philippines on Friday, after making the shock move to depart from the Growling Tigers' lair the previous day.

The former HS Boys Basketball Most Valuable Player made that decision official after meeting with UP Men's Basketball Team head coach Bo Perasol and Team Manager and Nowhere to go but UP representative Atty. Agaton Uvero.

On his decision to depart from UST, CJ shares, "Unang-una sa lahat, UST is my dream school kaya nalulungkot talaga ako sa nangyari. Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang UST and thankful ako sa kanila na binigyan nila ako ng opportunity, pero I need to move on."

He adds, "Noong natanggap ko na, na hindi na ako pwede sa UST, marami po akong kinausap and kinonsulta. Ang naging pakiramdam ko po ay mas bagay talaga ako sa UP, mas comfortable ako sa UP."

Perasol acknowledged the importance of landing someone of Cansino's caliber, noting UP's need to build on the future as well as the present. He says, "CJ will be a great addition to ensuring the sustainability of the program, especially with possibly just one player left from last season playing for Season 84. I will personally help him make the transition to being a Fighting Maroon. CJ will definitely enjoy his stay in UP."

Uvero expressed how lucky the Fighting Maroons are by having Cansino commit to their program. "We wanted him to play for UP when he graduated from UST high school two years ago, but his heart has always been with UST. We are happy and lucky that he chose to be part of the Fighting Maroons this time," he shares.

After his promising freshman stint was cut short due to injury, he was given team captaincy by UST head coach Aldin Ayo. CJ averaged 5.68 points. 5.21 rebounds, and just under a couple of assists in Season 82, where the Growling Tigers managed to take down the Maroons en route to the finals, losing to Ateneo in two games.

Cansino, Prado share UAAP Player of the Week nod

CJ Cansino is not yet 100 percent, but he is nonetheless going all-out in leading UST's quest to return to the playoffs in the UAAP 82 Men's Basketball Tournament.

And after a slow start to the season as he continues to recover from his ACL injury last year, Cansino is picking up steam at the right time and is well on his way in reclaiming a place as one of the league's brightest young stars.

The same sort of determination to get back to the semifinals is much evident in Mar Prado of Adamson, this one over at the Women's side of the action.

In fact, in a crucial contest wherein the Lady Falcons were out to strengthen their stranglehold on the third-seed, she exploded for a career-best 40 points to go along with eight rebounds, six assists, four steals, and a block.

"'Di siya nagbwakaw para makuha yung 40 points niya," said coach Ewon Arayi of Prado's scoring outburst that got the most important statistic of all - an Adamson win over UP. "Dinala pa rin niya yung team."

All the while, the 23-year-old did it in style, going 17-of-36 from the field en route to joining an elite club of only four lady ballers to breach the 40-point marker.

Without a doubt, both Prado and Cansino want nothing more than to help their teams keep playing until the next round.

And that is also why without a doubt, they are deserving to be hailed as co-awardees as Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps Players of the Week.

The Lady Falcons' top gun is only the third Women's player to receive the recognition decided upon by print and online scribes working the beat - following National U's Ria Nabalan and UP's Pat Pesquera.

For his part, this is Cansino's third taste of the weekly plum - following the two he got from his super rookie season.

That one ended earlier than expected, however, as his left knee injury forced him to miss UST' last game, to rehab for nine months, and to only be cleared for contact a month before the new season.

Because of that, the 6-foot-1 guard struggled in the earlygoing, averaging 4.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and less than one steal.

"Sobra akong na-frustrate nun kasi akala ko nagawa ko na lahat, akala ko kumpleto na ako," he shared. "Sabi ko nga before the season, 100 percent na ako, pero nung lumabas sa laro, hindi pa pala."

In the Growling Tigers' back-to-back wins in the last week, however, Cansino has reminded everybody just why he was named team captain as a sophomore, with norms of 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.

"Naging learning process sa akin yun na wag mag-stop kahit feeling mong kumportable ka na," said the 19-year-old about what he did to get over his personal hump. "Make yourself feel uncomfortable every time para mag-work hard ka palagi."

Indeed, with hard work and dedication, Cansino and Prado made history together - becoming only the third co-Players of the Week in the history of the collegiate ranks alongside Nabalan and Ateneo's Ange Kouame in the UAAP as well as San Beda's Robert Bolick and Letran's Bong Quinto in the NCAA.

The co-Players of the Week edged out L-Jay Gonzales of FEU, Jun Manzo of UP, and Isaac Go of Ateneo for the recognition.

Cansino snaps up second Player of the Week nod

CJ Cansino continues to impress in the 81st Season of the UAAP, as he shone the most last week to be named as the league's latest Player of the Week by the Collegiate Press Corps.

Presented by Chooks-to-Go, the nod was in recognition of being the first freshman to secure a triple double since the integration of computerized stats in the UAAP back in 2003.

The Tiger Cub-turned-Growling Tiger finished with twenty points, fourteen rebounds, and ten assists for the University of Santo Tomas in their 79-68 victory over the University of the East, a win that moved them into solo fourth place in the league standings heading into the stretch run towards the postseason.

Head Coach Aldin Ayo was least surprised with CJ's effort, sharing to the media after the game, "I know that ever since na kinuha ko si CJ, ang goal ko sa kanya is matulungan siya na mag-materialize lahat ng potential niya."

He adds, "CJ is full of potential, gusto lang namin mag-materialize iyon. I hope hindi siya makuntento, he continues improving. The good thing about CJ is that he always responds whenever sinasabihan namin."

For CJ, he deflects the credit more towards Ayo's system. "Masaya syempre dahil nakuha ko yung triple-double pero sinunod ko lang kasi ‘yung sistema na sharing the ball, na lahat kailangan gumana. Thankful ako sa sistema dahil nag-fit ito sa’kin," said the former Juniors MVP.

The win served as a celebratory moment for a couple more reasons, as not only did it eclipse the total wins UST garnered during the tenure of Ayo's predescessor, Boy Sablan, but also served as a fitting birthday gift for Cansino, who dedicated the milestone to his coaches as well as to the UST community.

"Oo, inspired ‘di lang dahil birthday ko, dahil (din) sa mga tao na grabe ‘yung mga sinasakripisyo sa team, lalo na ‘yung coaching staff. ‘Yung last game namin, ang pangit so para sa kanila talaga ‘to, to the community, and the coaches na sobra magsakripisyo sa team."

To secure his second Player of the Week nod, the print and online media picked Cansino over his teammate Marvin Lee, Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo, Brandon Bates of La Salle, and Jerrick Ahanmisi of Adamson.

CJ Cansino named as Chooks-to-Go Player of the Week

Early on in the UAAP's 81st season, CJ Cansino has proven that Aldin Ayo is correct in having put much faith in his freshman forward.

The former Tiger Cub has made himself a top contender not just for the Rookie of the Year, but also has an outside chance at making the Mythical Five, and even the Most Valuable Player.

And in UST's back-to-back wins this week, Cansino has delivered for the Growling Tigers. In their 86-72 blowout against the University of the Philippines, he contributed seventeen points, ten rebounds, six assists, and a couple of steals. He followed that up with five points, twelve rebounds, and three assists as they swept Far Eastern University in the eliminations with a 78-70 victory.

His efforts did not go unnoticed by the media, as the Collegiate Press Corps chose him over teammate Zach Huang, Thirdy Ravena and Ange Kouame of Ateneo, Aljun Melecio of La Salle, and John Lloyd Clemente of National University to be their Chooks-to-Go UAAP Player of the Week.

Cansino shared to the media, "Gusto ko lang ibigay yung best ko for UST kaya kahit pa nung Juniors hanggang ngayon, pag pumapasok ako sa loob ng court, binibigay ko talaga yung best ko." He also adds, "Lahat talaga ng effort namin as a team, lumalabas na. Kung paano kami nagpa-pracitce, nadadala na namin dito."

The former High School MVP has vowed to continue to work hard in his craft. "Masaya ako na yung extra hard work ko, lumalabas din, pero dagdag motivation lang yun para mas galingan ko pa."