UNIVERSITY of the Philippines may still feel the sting from its runner-up finish in the UAAP Season 85 men's basketball tournament, but CJ Cansino believes that this should only push the team harder next year.
"Syempre masakit kasi natalo kami sa finals pero ganyan talaga yung buhay," he said.
"Siguro dagdag motivation din yun para makabawi kami for the next season and I hope madala ko kung ano man yung pwede kong maitulong next season."
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Cansino missed this campaign after undergoing ACL surgery.
That, however, didn't stop him from being one of the vocal leaders of the Fighting Maroons, motivating them as they made their trek back to the championship series.
Cansino is expected to be back in the team for UAAP Season 86 and he is confident of UP's chances of getting back in contention for the crown.
"Sobrang tiwala ko sa teammates ko na alam nila yung kaya nilang gawin," said the Valenzuela native, with the Diliman side set to lose of Zavier Lucero, Henry Galinato, Brix Ramos, CJ Catapusan, and AJ Madrigal.
"Yung mga natira, kaya nilang punan yung kulang sa amin for the next season and I hope magkaroon kami ng successful na season."
Cansino believes that he's better equipped to return stronger now with a longer rehabilitation time after this second ACL injury as he's expected to rejoin the team practices by February.
"Nung unang ACL ko, three weeks lang ako nakapag-prepare ng basketball. Pero ngayon, medyo mahaba in six or eight months. Makakapag-ready naman ako," he said.
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