CJ Cansino has been steady the past few games for Meralco in the PBA Philippine Cup, with coach Luigi Trillo saying he admires how he embraces the role of injured Allein Maliksi.
Meralco has been missing a key piece in its title-retention bid in what has been a topsy-turvy PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup for the defending champ.
It’s Allein Maliksi.
Ruled out for the conference because of sciatica, Maliksi has always been present in the Bolts’ games — in street clothes.
But his absence is hardly felt in Meralco’s back-to-back victories, thanks in large part to CJ Cansino.
“People forget how important si Allein Maliksi sa'min. So that’s what CJ does, right?” said Bolts mentor Luigi Trillo of Cansino, who finished with 20 points to power his charges' 108-92 dousing of red-hot NLEX Sunday, May 25.
“Alam niyang we realized how important it is to have a guy who can put the ball in the hole, catch and shoot.”
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Trillo couldn’t help but admire how the young cager is embracing this big role. Cansino proved that he is up to the task, even earning back-to-back Player of the Game recognitions as the Bolts evened their record at 5-5.
“Allein was a big part of our championship last year tapos nawala siya. So there's a lot of pressure with the guy who can do that. CJ just welcomed that. CJ embraced it,” said Trillo.
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While the former UAAP champion from the University of the Philippines was the star of the show, the rest of the Bolts also did a splendid job.
Chris Newsome wound up with 21 points, two rebounds, five assists, and two steals for the Bolts, who broke free in the second half and warded off the Road Warriors' attempt to turn the corner.
Bong Quinto contributed 18 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Chris Banchero had 16, including a triple with 3:17 left to play that stretched the lead to 14, 101-87.
Cliff Hodge returned from a one-game suspension and had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block.
Hodge was an important piece as Meralco needed all hands on deck in stopping NLEX's franchise-best six-game winning surge.
The Road Warriors dropped to a 6-2 slate.
Robert Bolick paced NLEX with 22 points, four rebounds, six assists and a steal, while JB Bahio and Kevin Alas shot 14 apiece.
Meralco vs NLEX scores:
MERALCO 108 – Newsome 21, Cansino 20, Quinto 18, Banchero 16, Hodge 12, Black 8, Pasaol 7, Almazan 4, Jose 2, Caram 0, Bates 0.
NLEX 92 – Bolick 22, Bahio 14, Alas 14, Mocon 12, Fajardo 11, Ramirez 6, Nieto 5, Amer 3, Torres 3, Semerad 2, Valdez 0, Herndon 0.
Quarterscores: 21-18, 45-47, 77-70, 108-92.