MANILA – Crispin John “CJ” Cansino is headed to the professional ranks as he joins Iloilo United Royals for the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) season.
Cansino formalized his deal with the United Royals on Friday morning following a meeting with head coach MC Abolucion, team CEO JJ Javelosa and playing team manager Jay Javelosa.
The former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons winger is a welcome addition for Iloilo as they start from scratch after parting ways with some of their players from last season.
“We are happy to have CJ because he is a proven winner, especially during his time with UP,” JJ told Panay News. “We expect that he will bring that winning mentality to Iloilo.”
Cansino was a former standout of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers before transferring to the Fighting Maroons, where he won one UAAP title out of two finals appearances.
The Manila City-native is expected to use his MPBL stint with the United Royals as part of his preparation for the PBA Rookie Draft later this year.
“After CJ, we are looking to add more players dahil madaming players from last season ang hindi na babalik sa team,” said Jay. “We are looking to build a competitive squad for the next MPBL.”
Aside from Cansino, Panay News learned from a source that the United Royals is also looking to sign one of Cansino’s former Growling Tigers teammate Mark Nonoy.
Nonoy, who hails from La Carlota City in Negros Occidental, is reportedly eligible to play as homegrown player for Iloilo City as he studied with Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix before.
The United Royals came off a Southern Division quarterfinals exit in the 2023 MPBL season after bowing to the Bacoor City Strikers in three games./PN
