The Meralco Bolts have had an up-and-down start to the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, mixing stretches of strong play with long periods of rut. Despite that, the Bolts are 2-2 and winners of two straight, and that’s in part thanks to the strong play of sophomore CJ Cansino, who has been a beacon of consistency for Meralco through four games.
Cansino, a former UAAP champion with the UP Fighting Maroons, is averaging 16.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 steal so far in this Philippine Cup. While early, these numbers are putting the 25-year-old guard on pace to double his scoring output from last season, when he averaged 8.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 32 games for the Bolts.
CJ Cansino Solid Again vs. Ginebra, a “Revelation,” Says Luigi Trillo
On Friday against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, CJ Cansino was once again solid, if not superb, scattering 18 points to help Meralco to an 89-75 comeback win. He scored 6 of his total in the fourth, when the floodgates opened for Meralco, but perhaps more impressively, he fired 12 in the first three quarters when no Bolt could seemingly find the bottom of the net in the face of Ginebra’s stifling defense.
That effort through four games now isn’t lost on the Meralco coaching staff, though head coach Luigi Trillo admits that their young guard has been “a revelation.” Then again, it shouldn’t be surprising given how the Bolts’ veterans have taken Cansino under their wings.
“Part of his [Cansino’s] growth is the vets helping him out,” Trillo told reporters after Meralco’s win on Friday. “Normally, the ball’s in New’s hands, CB’s, or even Bong’s. But CJ has been a revelation for us. He’s also trying to play defense. But I think it’s these guys giving him confidence.”
That confidence from CJ Cansino has been apparent four games into the Philippine Cup. And if it continues, it only bodes well for the Bolts in the here and now—and for the future.
