Top guard CJ Cansino is no longer with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.

The development was revealed in reports on Thursday night that expressed that Cansino — once considered to be one of the cornerstones of the Growling Tigers — and UST have parted ways.

The 6-foot-2 Cansino was the UAAP’s Most Valuable Player in the Juniors division back in Season 80 and proceeded to light up the collegiate division the following season, averaging 12.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists before he had his freshman year cut short because of a knee injury.

The 20-year old came back to play in Season 82 and had respectable numbers of 5.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as the Growling Tigers finished runner-up to the mighty Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.

With news of Cansino’s departure spreading like wildfire, several players from different UAAP’s top schools tried to make their pitch on social media in a frenzied bid to woo Cansino. These players included the University of the Philippines Juan Gomez de Liano, National University’s Shaun Ildefonso, Ateneo’s Dave Ildefonso and La Salle’s Aljun Melecio. Letran’s star guard Fran Yu also chimed in on the social media frenzy.

UP head coach Bo Perasol confirmed to this writer that they are in fact pursuing Cansino to add to an already-loaded roster that recently recruited high school studs Gerry Abadiano and Cebuano Carl Tamayo and University of the Visayas star Jancork Cabahug.

In spite of Cansino’s departure, UST’s still has a bevy of talented players in reigning UAAP MVP, Soulemane Chabi, Rookie of the Year award winner Mark Nonoy and the high-flying Rhenz Abando. (JNP)