Cansino, UST unfazed despite precarious position in UAAP Final Four race

With the UAAP entering its final stretch, University of Santo Tomas can either stay in contention for the Final Four picture or get eliminated after one misstep.

The Growling Tigers sit at the sixth spot with a 5-7 record, a full game behind fourth placers University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University.

A win can help UST’s cause of surprising the top four but a loss could practically eliminate them from contention, but that precarious situation doesn’t deter rookie CJ Cansino.

“There’s still some hope for us,” said Cansino in Filipino after their frustrating 96-63 loss to Adamson University. “We’ll still do everything in our power, take it a game at a time, and compete until we can reach the Final Four.”

Things aren’t that bleak for the Tigers in their bid to return to the Final Four.

The Tigers will still face UP in their next game. where a win could put them in a prime position to contend for the no.4 spot. But they would also need for to FEU lose and overcome Ateneo in their final assignment.

Cansino has a been a picture of strength for UST, toughing it out despite writhing in pain over an ankle injury against the Falcons. He was able to come back and walk out the game venue without any assistance.

“There’s some pain but I just endure it, I drank some medicine and it alleviated the pain,” said Cansino who had 17 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists against the Falcons. “We have to win, so I never thought of the pain, I just wanted to win.”