CJ Cansino thanks UP for bringing back his confidence after UST lets him go

Former University of Santo Tomas team captain CJ Cansino expressed his gratitude to University of the Philippines for bringing back his confidence after UST let him go.

In an exclusive interview with “Anong Tunay,” a YouTube channel that interviews athlete celebrities, Saturday, CJ revealed that he lost his confidence and sense of self-worth when he was removed from the UST Growling Tigers. 

“Ang tunay na naramdaman ko noon, unang pumasok sa isip ko, UST ang nagbigay sa ’kin ng chance na maabot ko ’yung pangarap ko, UST din pala mag-aalis noon, dahil the moment na sinabi sa ’kin na, ‘CJ, you’re off the team,’ sabi ko na may kukuha pa ba sa ’kin?” he shared.

“Kasi may feeling ako na baka wala ng kumuha sa ’kin, wala nang tumanggap na school,” he added. “’Di ko alam kung matutuloy ko pa pangarap ko na maging basketball player, makapagtapos kasi wala talagang kasiguraduhan kung may kukuha ba sa ’kin.”

However, he felt grateful when the UP Fighting Maroons took him in.

“Sobrang natuwa ako,” CJ said. “Bumalik ’yung compyansa ko na, ay meron pala akong worth. Sabi ko may worth pa pala ako sa ibang school,” he added.
 
“Ang tunay, tinanggal ako. Wala ako magagawa kundi mag-move on. Para sa career ko din ’to, para sa family ko. Wala naman talaga magagawa kung ayaw na talaga sayo kailangan mag-move forward.”

Although he’s no longer part of UST, CJ said he was still thankful to his former team and university for giving him a chance and helping him become a better basketball player and person.

READ: CJ Cansino on choosing Fighting Maroons: ‘Mas bagay talaga ako sa UP’

His choice of team

CJ revealed that he decided to join the Fighting Maroons based on his gut feeling.

Aside from considering the university’s academics, basketball and player development factor, CJ said he was the type of person to follow his instinct.

“Na, ‘uy! Ito gusto ko ah. Gusto ko na dito mag-aral,’ o ’yun yung pumasok sa feeling ko nung time na kinausap ako ng UP ... parang nung kausap ko ’yung UP, naalala ko ’yung nagdecide ako na gusto kong mag-college sa UST, same feeling na gusto ko na dito maglaro,” he said.

CJ revealed that Ricci Rivero also influenced his decision, since the UP player was in a similar situation when he left De La Salle University. 

“Noong time na tinanggal ako, kinausap ko siya, naging same situation kami ... ’yun ’yung masasabi ko na kung may same situation kayo, may connection,” CJ added.

He also said he quickly decided to transfer to UP because classes were about to start soon.

“Kaya sobrang bilis ng pangyayari, kailangan ko agad magdesisyon para sa sarili ko kasi kung hindi ako magde-decide, nag-uumpisa na kasi klase, kailangan ko mag-residency kung next month pa ako magde-decide or next week. Kailangan agad eh, kelangan maka-enroll ako agad,” he said.

“Kung hindi ko gagawin ’yun, two years ako magre-residency. Sayang naman yung playing year ko so ’yun, kaya ganun kabilis.” – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News