CJ Cansino, Mark Nonoy return to UAAP Finals with different teams

Four years ago, CJ Cansino and Mark Nonoy were on the same side as they brought University of Santo Tomas to the UAAP Season 82 men's basketball finals.

The Growling Tigers, however, fell to Ateneo de Manila University that season as the Blue Eagles completed a sweep en route to the crown.

Four years later, Cansino and Nonoy are back in the UAAP Finals stage — sporting different jerseys and playing for opposing teams.

Cansino is now with University of the Philippines and Nonoy is with De La Salle University, two teams which will battle for the Season 86 title.

While this is Cansino's third UAAP finals appearance, with another one for the Diliman-based squad back in Season 84, the Fighting Maroon said this will be a different one.

"This finals, makakalaro na ako so sobrang taas ng expectations ko sa sarili ko and sana maabot ko," Cansino said on Saturday after dethroning the Blue Eagles in the Final Four, 57-46.

(This finals, I can play and I am setting high expectations for myself so I hope I can reach it.)

What is more important for Cansino, however, is that he is more prepared to face the battle now in his final playing year.

"Siguro for the past, kasi nung unang finals ko sa UST, nagre-recover din ako sa injury ko sa ACL. Nung finals ko rito sa UP, ACL din ako non, nakapaglaro ako. Ang pinagkaiba nito, mas prepared ako, 'yung katawan ko physically. Mas mentally prepared din ako."

(During my first finals with UST, I was recovering from my ACL. The first one with UP, I also had an injury then. Now, my body is more prepared, mentally I am prepared as well.)

UP booked their Finals slot while the Green Archers were just preparing for their Final Four battle against National University.

"Mag-prepare kami kung sinuman ang makakaharap namin. Same mentality, same culture na bini-build namin, and hopefully, kung anuman ang system na gusto ng coach, madala namin."

(We will prepare for whoever will we be facing. Same mentality, same culture we are building and hopefully, whatever system coach will instill, we will bring it to the finals.)

Little did Cansino know that he will face former teammate Nonoy in the finals.

"Minsan, nag-uusap din kasi kami," Nonoy said about Cansino after their win against National U, 97-73. 

"Gusto lang naming bigyan ng magandang laban 'yung fans. Gagawin namin ang best namin. On the court, siyempre magkalaban, off the court siyempre nandun pa rin ang friendship namin as former teammates."

(We still talk from time to time. We just want to give the fans a good fight. We will give our best. On the court, of course we are opponents but off the court, the friendship as former teammates is still there.)

This will be the first time that UP and La Salle will face in the UAAP Finals.

Game 1 of the Finals will be played on Wednesday, November 29, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News