CJ Cansino in action for Meralco against Magnolia in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, October 19, 2025 at the Ynares Center in Montalban. PBA Media
MANILA -- Meralco guard CJ Cansino earned PBA Player of the Week honors after taking a starring role in the Bolts' three-game, five-day swing in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
Cansino opened his second year in the league on a strong note, averaging 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over the past three games to earn top honors for the period of October 15-19.
He closed the Bolts' busy week in the PBA by notching career-highs of 23 points and four blocks in Meralco's 78-76 win over Magnolia last Sunday at the Ynares Center-Montalban.
READ: Cansino takes charge as Meralco survives Magnolia
The Meralco second-year player also stepped up on both ends of the floor in the Bolts' 89-75 win against Barangay Ginebra where he had 18 points and two steals last Friday, and played quality minutes by chipping in six points and four rebounds in 16 minutes during their 105-96 win over Blackwater at the start of the week.
"I'm happy na binibigyan ako ng ganitong role. Pero for me, sa sistema kasi ni coach Nenad (Vucinic, Meralco active consultant), wala 'yung ganung role. Kung sino 'yung mainit sa game, binibigay namin. Nasaktuhan lang na maganda 'yung nilalaro ko sa offense nitong mga last game," said Cansino.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo praised Cansino for his offseason work which is paying dividends early in the conference.
"He has put in the work in the offseason. I think he has gotten 12 pounds of muscle. More than anything, you see the stats and the scoring but to me, nakakataba ng puso kay CJ because he is playing defense. Last conference, we had to go through those times that they were attacking him. This time, he is holding the fort," said Trillo.
Cansino won over teammate Chris Newsome, and the San Miguel duo of Marcio Lassiter and Cjay Perez for the plum handed by scribes from major broadsheets, tabloids, and online publications covering the PBA beat.