The upcoming showdown between the young UST Growling Tigers and the UP Fighting Maroons is no big deal, at least for CJ Cansino, who left España for Diliman and is set to face his former team for the first time.
“Wala namang big deal sa’kin dahil, alam mo ‘yun, we’ve moved on,” Cansino said after the Maroons lost to the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 90-81, on Saturday, March 26.
Cansino had a solid UP debut, scoring a game-high 21 points, along with five rebounds and three steals on 8-of-15 shooting off the bench.
“Okay naman kami ng mga teammates ko dati and okay kami ng UST and ng coaches,” he said. “So, for me it’s just another regular game na kailangan naming paghandaan, katulad ng pinaghandaan namin sa Ateneo.”
Cansino, then UST team captain, was the first domino to fall in the Tigers’ 2020 Sorsogon “bubble” scandal.
The controversy that eventually unfolded led to the departures of coach Aldin Ayo, rookie of the year Mark Nonoy, wings Rhenz Abando and Brent Paraiso, emerging big man Bismarck Lina, Ira Bataller, and Deo Cuajao.
With the UAAP back for the first time in two years, Cansino said he was just happy to play again.
“No’ng nagkakamayan nga kami ng mga kalaban namin kanina, ang sinasabi lang namin sa isa’t isa, ‘Welcome back!’ After two years at least nakalaro na kami,” he said.
“Same din siyempre sa kanila [UST Growling Tigers], dahil, alam mo ‘yun, ito na ulit tayo. Ito na ‘yung basketball na hinihintay natin.”
The Season 82 semifinals rematch between UST and UP will cap UAAP’s four-game slate on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.
