UNIVERSITY of the Philippines skipper CJ Cansino is determined to exit in a blaze of glory and victory after recovering from an ACL injury that forced him to sit out the last UAAP cage wars.
“Dahil second time ko na ito, alam ko na iyong gagawin. It’s all about mindset,” Cansino said. “Medyo alam ko na kung paano ko siya gagawin dahil napagdaanan ko na at alam ko na iyong experience.
“It’s all about mindset talaga kasi minsan nakakalimutan mo na kaya mong gawin ito, pero kaya mo pala. Subok lang nang subok. Siyempre, hindi mawawala iyong takot, pero process ito,” he added.
The 6-foot-2 guard has already hurdled an adversity like this, working his way from a knee injury back in his days in University of Santo Tomas.
Cansino scored 11 points in his first game back in the Fighting Maroons’ 91-75 win over Far Eastern University last Saturday in their debut in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
More than his numbers, his comeback couldn’t have come at a better time for UP.
Now tasked to lead the team, his veteran savvy will be counted upon to stabilize a line-up mostly made up of new faces, among them Lebron Lopez, Chicco Briones, and blue-chip rookies Seven Gagate and Luis Pablo.
“Mabigat iyong responsibility ng isang leader. Bago mo ituro, kailangan mo gawin iyong tama. Lagi kaming nire-remind ni coach Gold (Monteverde) na ilugar namin lagi iyong mga bata sa tamang way,” Cansino said.
