Two seasons into his PBA career, CJ Cansino remains humble enough to embrace his role on a veteran-laden Meralco team but hungry enough to spark his own success with the Bolts.
Meralco Bolts’ CJ Cansino still has a ways to go in his PBA career.
After spending most of his UAAP life as the star of his team, there is a higher hill to climb as a professional as he figures out his role.
Being surrounded by older and more experienced players on the regular, Cansino is in the midst of rediscovering himself on the heels of his rookie year campaign with the Bolts.
Now on his second year with Meralco, he is determined to prove his worth.
Continuing to work on his game day in and day out, Cansino hopes to be a better version of himself as this season marks another time for Meralco to chase PBA and EASL glory.
In this edition of One Sports’ Off the Record, Cansino talks about what he’s been working on and how he hopes to present himself in the PBA and beyond.
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One Sports: Your rookie year is done and dusted. What can you say about how you’ve performed?
CJ Cansino: Masasabi ko sa rookie year ko, syempre, marami akong natutunan. And yung mga natutunan ko na yun, alam ko na yung mga gagawin ko, alam ko na yung mga mai-improve ko. So, [this] second year, siguro more on application na lang.
OS: Is there anything in particular that you want to work on?
CJ: [Yung] katawan [ko]. Eto, nagpabigat ako ng katawan. Plus five kilos [yung weight ko]. Kasi kailangan mo yan sa depensa and sa opensa.
OS: Unlike your life in college, you have to embrace a lesser role right now — as one of the newbies. How are you dealing with that shift?
CJ: Syempre, magsisimula tayo sa baba eh.
So sa Meralco, hindi naman porke’t lahat ng ginagawa ko sa UAAP, ganun din magagawa ko sa PBA. So, yung ego ko lang na tanggapin yung mga ibibigay sakin and tatrabahuhin ko from there.
OS: Now that you’re a professional, you’ve also had a chance to rub shoulders with NBA players, and other more experienced players. How do you think that influenced you?
CJ: Hindi ‘to basta basta eh. So, yung makakita lang ako ng NBA player, so sabi ko na, ah kasing tangkad ko lang pala sila. Alam mo yun? Ganun din yung katawan niya.
Masasabi mong posible talaga eh kapag nakikita niyo sila, mas lalo kang gaganahan, mas lalo kang mai-inspire. Yung motivation mo na alam mo yun, posible pala lahat.
[Editor’s note: CJ Cansino’s first five games in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup: 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks)
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.