MANILA – Veteran forward Crispin John Cansino is set to miss time for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. He underwent surgery for the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Cansino, who played a vital role in UP’s title-clinching victory over Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 84, had his right ACL as well as meniscus repaired on Monday.
Cansino admitted that he was nervous as this will be his second ACL surgery after also suffering the same injury during his rookie year with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.
“Alam ko kaya kong lagpasan ito pero siyempre nalulungkot lang ako kasi challenge ito sa una after surgery,” Cansino said in an interview with Tiebreaker Times. “Pero napagdaanan ko na rin naman ito at mas lalakas yung tuhod ko tulad nung last time.”
Cansino actually sustained the injury during their elimination round game against the Blue Eagles on May 1 but opted still to play in their do-or-die Game 3 against Ateneo to clinch the championship.
“Prepared naman na lahat from surgery to therapy,” Cansino said. “Nung nalaman ng UP management na ACL siya, tinawagan din ako agad na kung ano ba ang kailangan ko kaya di rin ako nagwo-worry masyado. At yung sa sarili ko, siguro masabi ko lang wala namang tao ready sa mga ganitong pangyayari pero ang masasabi ko lang eh I have no choice kung hindi harapin ang lahat ng ito kasi ito yung pinili kong career,” he added.
With the injury, the 6-foot-1 Cansino is set to miss the entire UAAP Season 85 for the Fighting Maroons. He will also be absent in UP’s two-game exhibition match in Iloilo City and in Passi City at the end of the month.
Gametime Sports founder Rodolfo Go Villaruz, who organized UP’s exhibition game in the province, said that Cansino’s injury was very unfortunate as he extended his wishes for the speedy recovery of the Fighting Maroons forward.
“It is very unfortunate when you hear players suffer injury of that magnitude but we at Gametime were wishing for the speedy recovery of CJ Cansino,” Villaruz told Panay News.
“The Ilonggo basketball fans were looking forward to seeing him play here but injuries are things that no one can predict. This could have been his second time to play in the Iloilo province,” he added./PN
