Cansino opens up, implores people to take mental health seriously

CJ Cansino has been the talk of the town over the weekend after he was controversially kicked off the UST Growling Tigers, forcing him to find another home with the UP Fighting Maroons for the rest of his UAAP career.

As his exit story has blown up to a more serious battle involving head coach Aldin Ayo and his alleged “bubble” training in Sorsogon, Cansino has quickly distanced himself from the problems facing the place he called home since his high school days. (READ: UAAP awaits UST internal probe on alleged ‘bubble’ practices)

In what he called his first and “possibly last” tell-all interview with former UST volleyball player Mela Tunay, the ex-Tiger team captain explained why.

“Gusto ko na mag-move on, gusto ko nang magtrabaho sa susunod na team ko, gusto ko na doon mag-focus, ayoko na mag-confirm. Ayoko nang balikan kung ano man ‘yung mga nangyari nitong past,” Cansino told Tunay on her YouTube show Anong Tunay.

(I just want to move on, work with my new team, focus there, and not confirm anything. I don’t want to go back on whatever happened in the past.)

“Naging problema ko talaga, inaatake ako ng anxiety,” he continued. “Napansin na rin ng family ko na pumapayat ako kasi hindi ako masyadong makatulog, nahihirapan ako matulog. Nahihirapan din ako kumain, wala akong gana.”

(I really had problems facing anxiety attacks. My family noticed I was getting thinner because I had trouble sleeping. I also had a hard time eating because I didn’t have the appetite.)

Cansino’s basketball journey has indeed been promising, but has also been littered with roadblocks recently, and that’s not even counting his ouster from the Tigers squad. (READ: Cansino breaks silence on UST departure, says he got ‘kicked off’)

Tough grind

After a stellar UAAP Season 80 Juniors MVP campaign where he bested NBA prospect Kai Sotto for the award, the 6-foot-1 guard made a seamless transition to the seniors level under Ayo and averaged 12.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists for Season 81.

However, he tore his ACL in the final game of that season and was brought back slowly for their Season 82 run to the UAAP finals. Despite being named the team captain, he only averaged 5.8 points, 5.2 boards and 1.9 dimes coming off the bench.

Such a tough grind for a student-athlete obviously takes a toll not only on the body, but on the mind as well, and Cansino implored others to take that side seriously.

“Sobrang hirap, kaya kung may kaibigan kayo o family kayo na may problema sa mental health, ‘wag natin gawing biro ‘yun,” he said.

“Kasi hanggang ngayon sa mga Pilipino, akala nila ‘yung mental health, ano lang, parang sipon na akala nila sobrang dali lang na, ‘Wag mo nang isipin yan, magdasal ka lang.’ Hindi po gano’n ‘yun.”

(It’s really difficult, so if you have friends and family who have mental health problems, don’t make a joke out of it. Until now, most Filipinos think that mental health is like the common cold where you can say, “Don’t think about it, just pray.” That’s not how it goes.)

Although his time in UST has been bittersweet and difficult for his mind and body, Cansino still professed his love for his former school every chance he got, even after his transition to a new home in Diliman.  (READ: CJ Cansino joins UP Maroons after shock UST exit)

Despite everything, this new Maroon will always have a Tiger’s heart. – Rappler.com