AFTER missing an entire season due to injury, CJ Cansino will be a man on a mission for the UP Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 86.
The graduating Maroon senior is pleased to be back after an ACL tear, scoring 19 as the Maroons beat San Beda, 99-62, in a tuneup match.
READ: CJ Cansino typifies hot UP shooting in 37-point rout of San Beda
"Sobrang laking tulong sa'kin ng opportunity na 'to kasi kailangan ko ng maraming playing time lalo na't almost one year akong hindi nakalaro," Cansino said.
Even without Cansino, the Maroons made the UAAP Finals in Season 85, bowing in three games to the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
CJ Cansino on leading UP's stacked rookie class
In Season 86, Cansino's last as a Maroon, the 23-year-old guard leads a bunch of UP rookies — including Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate, Lebron Lopez, Sean Alter, and Mark Belmonte.
"Okay naman yung adjustments [with our rookies] kasi kahit last season, isa rin ako sa mga seniors ng team," Cansino said.
"So ngayon, mas dumami na yung rookies kaya mas malaking responsibility 'yung meron ako and I hope na magampanan ko yung responsibility na yun para makuha ulit namin 'yung championship," he added.
"Mabigat yung leadership role kasi siyempre kapag leader ka, kailangang tama palagi 'yung mga ginagawa mo, mga desisyon mo. Kailangan iniisip mo palagi yung team mo at hindi ka talaga magiging selfish," he said.
With Season 86 still a few months away, Cansino is confident the young Maroons will have enough time to find their rhythm.
"Lagi naming sinasabi sa mga rookies na kung anuman 'yung problema na dumating, kailangan solution-oriented kami dahil 'yun kasi 'yung culture na bini-build namin dito sa UP," said Cansino.
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