Dead shot CJ Cansino was glad and at the same time relieved to be back in action for University of the Philippines in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
The returning team captain enjoyed every minute of his playing time on court after spending the rest of the previous season on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Cansino made his presence felt by hitting 5-of-9 from the three-point area to finish with 19 points in the Fighting Maroons’ 68-51 drubbing of Adamson University on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“I’m so happy and thank God I’m back to playing here. I pray I will be healthy for the rest of the season,” Cansino said as UP set its redemption bid in motion after losing the crown to Ateneo de Manila University last year.
“Even if my shots weren’t falling, my teammates were encouraging me to take them and that gave me the confidence to keep going.”
Cansino was overwhelmed with emotions during the match and acknowledged that he might have gone a bit overboard with his reactions especially after sinking his last triple with 31.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter with the game already in the bag.
