ROOKIE CJ Cansino rejoins Meralco in its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign after spending more than three months in the injury list.
The UAAP champion player out of the University of the Philippines was elevated to the active roster in time for the Bolts’ 5 p.m. game against Eastern on Sunday when the league resumes action after the Christmas and New Year break.
Cansino, a first round pick of the team in Season 49 draft, suffered a severe ankle sprain during Game 1 of Meralco’s quarterfinals series against Barangay Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup, where the Bolts were swept in three games.
Initially, he was fitted with a walking boot, but even after it was taken off, the pride of Valenzuela City still wasn’t given the go-signal to play.
In making way for Cansino’s return, the Bolts relegated veteran gunner Allein Maliksi back to the injury/reserved list in a notice the team sent to the Commissioner’s Office on Saturday.
Coach Luigi Trillo confirmed the injury to Maliksi anew, but didn’t exactly tell what has been bothering the wingman out of University of Santo Tomas.
“But babalik din siya after a couple of games,” said the Meralco coach.
Maliksi has been in and out of the injury list this season, initially dealing with a groin injury then later with a hurting knee.
He did return to active duty on Christmas Day, playing for 13 minutes and finishing with five points and three assists in a 110-94 loss to Converge.
The Bolts carry a 3-2 record, but have lost two in a row.
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