CJ Cansino laughs off ‘Boyfriend ni Alliana’ tag

In an era where athletes are just as visible online as they are on the hardwood, CJ Cansino is proving he can handle both arenas with the same ease.

The Meralco Bolts guard recently found himself at the center of a lighthearted online joke after several sports pages began referring to him as “boyfriend ni Alliana” — a playful nod to his relationship with lifestyle content creator Alliana Dolina. Instead of brushing it off, Cansino leaned in.

For those who follow the couple, the humor wasn’t surprising. Their relationship has long carried a barkada-like energy — playful, teasing, and rooted in friendship. Whether it’s Alliana posting content or CJ dropping comments underneath, their exchanges often turn into mini comedy skits for fans.

And according to Cansino, that’s exactly how it’s always been.

“Wala naman, parang mag-bestfriend naman talaga kami ni Alliana,” Cansino shared. “Dinala ko na lang sa social media para makita din ng mga tao.”

“Actually ‘yon ‘yong palagi kong ginagawa sa kaniya, eh. Palagi siyang naiinis sa akin,” he said with a laugh. “Pero gano’n naman talaga ‘yong relationship naming dalawa. Talagang inaasar ko siya palagi. Maiinis siya pero maya-maya okay na kasi siguro sanay na din siya sa akin.”

Soon enough, the basketball world joined the inside joke.

After a strong outing against Magnolia, where Cansino tallied 23 points, six rebounds, and four blocks, PBA Rush highlighted his performance with a cheeky caption:

“GRABE ‘YUNG BOYFRIEND NI ALLIANA!

CJ Cansino delivers a solid performance for the Meralco Bolts, logging 23 points, six rebounds, and four blocks against the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup!”

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Rather than shy away from it, Cansino reposted the feature with a witty response of his own:

“Makapag-caption ‘tong PBA, kala mo ako ‘yung non-showbiz boyfriend.”

Even his birthday wasn’t safe from the running gag. The East Asia Super League chimed in with:

“Happy birthday pala sa boyfriend ni Alliana!

ENJOY THE DAY, CJ!

Wishing to see more half-court bombs in Year 26.”

Cansino’s answer? “Salamat ha!”

Behind the humor, however, is a player steadily building his identity in Philippine basketball. The former UP Fighting Maroons captain continues to carve out his role with Meralco, letting his game speak just as loudly as the online banter.

If anything, the viral nickname only adds another layer to his public persona — proof that in today’s game, personality and performance can coexist.

On social media, he might be “boyfriend ni Alliana.”

On the court, he’s still CJ Cansino — and he’s making sure people remember that too.

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