By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After revealing that it was the UST Growling Tiger’s decision to kick him out, CJ Cansino bared more why things ended that way.
The former King Tiger explained the background regarding his departure from UST during one of the episodes of Virtual Playground’s Anong Tunay.
Cansino’s exit was one of the most shocking events to happen after leading the Growling Tigers to a UAAP Finals appearance just as he recovered from a grueling ACL injury.
Almost everyone in the community was caught off-guard after Cansino announced his decision to play for the UP Fighting Maroons days after leaving UST.
According to reports, the Growling Tigers squad was already preparing for the upcoming UAAP Season 83 in Sorsogon for the last two months.
Cansino on the other hand, felt homesick and wanted to go home to see his family and have some vacation from their intense training.
“Mental health, ‘yun ang naging problema ko. Inaatake ako ng anxiety, napansin ng family ko na pumapayat ako, nahihirapan ako matulog, nahihirapan ako kumain, wala akong gana. Sobrang drained, exhausted na ako sa last three months,” said Cansino.
Things then escalated quickly when the Growling Tigers coaching squad headed by coach Aldin Ayo decided to kick out Cansino from the squad.
“Yung tanong na pumasok sa isip ko, ‘Bakit ganun? Bakit ang bilis naman nila mag-decision?’ Hindi man lang nila ako nabigyan ng second chance para makabawi man lang, at ‘di ako tuluyang umalis. ‘Yun ang pumapasok sa isip ko nung panahon na tinanggal ko. Hindi ko rin masagot kasi ‘yun din ‘yung tanong sa isip ko, na ba’t ang bilis nila akong tinanggal?” Cansino said.
The former UST superstar was distraught with the prospect of changing teams because ever since, UST was always his dream school.
“Naisip ko may kukuha pa kaya sa akin? ‘Yung feeling na baka wala na kumuha sa akin, wala nang kumuhang school. Heartbreak sa akin kasi ‘di ko alam kung matutuloy pa pangarap ko mag-basketball player, makapagtapos, kasi walang kasiguraduhan kung may kukuha sa akin,” Cansino continued
