By JAN CARLO ANOLIN
Looks like the controversy surrounding University of Santo Tomas is far from over.
Since the departure of former team captain CJ Cansino from the Tigers’ lair last Thursday, the university has faced back-to-back issues – starting with the reason why UST kicked Cansino out of the team which in turn flipped another page on the script with the alleged unauthorized training bubble in Sorsogon.
Cansino, who eventually transferred to University of the Philippines the following day, has kept mum on the issue until he guested on Carmela Tunay’s “Anong Tunay?!” show Saturday.
In the show, the 20-year-old Cansino answered various queries once and for all, confirming his move to the Diliman-based squad.
But on Sunday, the former UAAP juniors’ MVP cannot help but to respond again to several claims via Twitter regarding the fast UP recruitment process and their life in the training bubble.
The new UP recruit quoted a now deleted tweet which cited an article on coach Bo Perasol explaining Cansino’s decision to join the Maroons.
“If you don’t believe me. That’s ok. Hindi naman tama na mandamay ng ibang school o ng ibang tao. If you want the truth you can ask all my teammates privately,” Cansino tweeted as thread opener.
Twitter user Laban UP (@UPlangmalakas) replied on the thread with the screenshot of a certain Christ Gaudiano (@thegaudtalks).
Gaudiano’s tweet read: “This is a sham. UP already got to him and now they are using the Sorsogon bubble as an excuse to leave UST. Don’t say you love UST when you are the reason we are in this mess.”
The Twitter thread received mixed reactions from netizens and Cansino backed up his previous tweet with a meme in gif format that read: “Bakit parang kasalanan ko pa?”
An hour later, Cansino tweeted: “New story. I love it.” with a heart emoji.
A different version of the Tigers’ bubble life also surfaced on social media. Twitter user @rawrrrrrr – posted the screenshot of the circulating Facebook comment narrating the series of events that ensued.
The viral comment stated that the training bubble started mid-June and that it was “voluntary and complete with travel documents.” It also stated that no 5-on-5 events occurred, only scrimmages.
The comment added that Cansino sought permission to return to Manila early August, to which Ayo agreed but was cancelled due to the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) implemented in Mega Manila.
Ayo had learned from “sources in Manila” that UP was on the move to recruit Cansino through his “manager.”
The alleged claim also stated that Cansino had changed attitude and showed “total disrespect” toward his coach and teammates.
The comment continued with Cansino creating a Facebook Messenger group on August 9 and included the parents of his teammates in the chat with the purpose of reporting their “bad condition” in the alleged Sorsogon bubble.
This led Ayo to boot out Cansino off the team with the latter dragging teammates Brent Paraiso and Bismarck Lina out of the bubble. The two, however, declined Cansino’s invitation, the comment added.
Cansino quoted the tweet and said: “Retweet ko lang po baka madelete hehe.”
ABS-CBN News first reported that the Tigers are conducting the training camp – dubbed as the ‘Bicol bubble’ — since June and that Cansino was sacked due to “defiance of authority.”
Government authorities from Department of Health, Philippine Sports Commission and Games and Amusements Board, that formed the Joint Administrative Order, clarified that only professional leagues can return to practice under strict health guidelines.
Under GAB jurisdiction, led by chairman Baham Mitra, are Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Football League and Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas 3×3.
While all these claims mentioned on social media are just mere speculations, UST, UAAP and the JAO group are doing their respective roles to further probe the situation.
Ayo, for his part, remained mum on the bubble issue but wished Cansino all the best for his new journey with UP.
