CJ Cansino slowly getting his groove back for UST

Photo from UAAP

ANTIPOLO CITY—CJ Cansino has been struggling for the most part of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament but he has seemed to have regained his form as of late, helping University of Santo Tomas pick up back-to-back wins over National University on Saturday and University of the Philippines on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old sophomore fired a season-high 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting that went with five rebounds, three assists and three steals in the Growling Tigers’ 88-76 rout over the Bulldogs at Ynares Center here.

Cansino’s season-best followed up his 12-point outing in an 84-78 win over the Fighting Maroons.

“I was frustrated during the first games because I thought that I’ve done everything I can,” said Cansino in Filipino. “I didn’t take breaks, I was going to my therapy and playing basketball every day.”

“I thought I was at 100 percent but my play wasn’t translating to what I was expecting. Everything has been a learning process and that I won’t stop when things are getting comfortable.”

Cansino, who’s coming off an ACL tear in his freshman year, played more than 25 minutes against the Bulldogs and his play was instrumental in UST getting a 7-5 record to stay at the top half of the tournament.

The 6-foot-2 combo guard believes it’s only a matter of time before he returns to his old self and continue his strong play pre-injury last year when he became a rookie sensation in Season 81.

“I think there’s a certain fear still because of what happened but that’s all in my mind,” said Cansino, who averaged 12.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season. “But my slashing capability is still there.”