CJ Cansino finds inspiration after meeting Ja Morant in the Philippines

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant became the latest National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar to visit the basketball-crazy nation of the Philippines, making his first stop in Manila on Friday, August 1.

Morant visited Manila for his “Make Them Watch” tour in association with sportswear giant Nike. He appeared at the Nike Courtyard in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), where the venue was thronged by adoring fans.

The jam-packed crowd witnessed Morant dancing and showing off his impressive 43-inch vertical leap by dunking the ball twice — once off an alley-oop and another time leaping from the restricted arc. Morant also watched an exhibition game between the Barangay Ballers, led by Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) stars CJ Cansino, Rhenz Abando, and Jack Animam, and a La Salle Zobel team featuring Jeron Teng, Ricci Rivero, and Marga Jimenez.

Meralco Bolts guard CJ Cansino expressed his gratitude for meeting Morant in person, revealing that he draws inspiration from the NBA superstar.

“First of all, this isn’t just a simple thing. Seeing an NBA player in person — then realizing that he’s as tall as I am and we have similar bodies — I can say that it’s possible. You feel more energized and inspired. Your motivation increases because you see that anything is possible,” Cansino said.

Ja Morant shares a moment with Filipino basketball stars Rhenz Abando, Jack Animam, Ricci Rivero, CJ Cansino and the young ballers playing in the exhibition game. | via @PaigeJavier pic.twitter.com/Ec1bamI9HC

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) August 1, 2025

The former UAAP standout revealed that he shares some similarities with Morant, noting that the 25-year-old NBA star suffered from a back spasm during his rookie year, causing him to miss several games. Similarly, Cansino sustained an injury early in his UAAP career.

Notably, Cansino came into the spotlight in 2020 after exposing the poor living conditions inside UST’s training bubble, earning him the moniker “Boy Moniker.” Meanwhile, Morant was suspended by the NBA in 2023 after brandishing a gun in an Instagram story.

“Of course, as a player, you look up to NBA players because of what they’ve been through — and Ja Morant is one of them. I’m so happy that he’s here in Manila. He’s still out here, helping out and being an inspiration to the kids. He’s showing them that it’s possible — that it can be done,” he added.

Now 25 years old, Cansino is focused on improving his game in his second season with Meralco, aiming to make more of an impact both on and off the court.

“In my rookie year, I learned a lot. And from those lessons, I now know what I need to do and what I need to improve. For my second year, I already know what to work on. I’ve been focusing entirely on my body,” he said, pointing to his arm. “I’ve been gaining weight. I need to add five kilos for both offense and defense — and those are the things I’m really concentrating on right now,” Cansino concluded.

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