Crispin John Garcia Cansino, popularly known as CJ Cansino, is a Filipino professional basketball player who plays as a guard for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Born on October 27, 1999, Cansino developed into one of the Philippines’ notable young basketball talents through the UAAP, first with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and later with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. He is listed at around 6 feet 2 inches and wears jersey number 71 for Meralco.
Cansino first attracted major attention as a high-school basketball player at UST, where he won the UAAP Season 80 juniors Most Valuable Player award. He then made the difficult transition to senior basketball, producing a memorable rookie season with UST that included becoming the first UAAP rookie in the computerized-statistics era to record a triple-double. After transferring to UP, he became part of the Fighting Maroons team that won the UAAP Season 84 championship in 2022, ending UP’s 36-year championship drought.
Cansino turned professional in 2024, initially joining the Iloilo United Royals of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League before being selected 11th overall by the Meralco Bolts in the 2024 PBA Draft. He has since established himself in the PBA and was selected as a reserve for the 2026 PBA All-Star Game. In September 2026, Cansino also made headlines away from basketball after announcing his engagement to longtime girlfriend and content creator Alliana Dolina, with whom he has been in a relationship for many years.
CJ Cansino Profile Summary
| Profile | Details |
| Full name | Crispin John Garcia Cansino |
| Popular name | CJ Cansino |
| Date of birth | October 27, 1999 |
| Age | 26 years old |
| Birthplace | Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Profession | Professional basketball player |
| Position | Guard / shooting guard |
| Current team | Meralco Bolts |
| League | Philippine Basketball Association |
| Jersey number | 71 |
| Height | About 6 feet 2 inches |
| College teams | UST Growling Tigers, UP Fighting Maroons |
| High school | UST Junior High School |
| PBA draft | 2024 |
| Draft position | 11th overall |
| Previous professional team | Iloilo United Royals |
| Major achievement | UAAP Season 84 champion |
| 2026 achievement | PBA All-Star selection |
| Fiancée | Alliana Dolina |
| Relationship status | Engaged |
| @cjcansinoo | |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified |
CJ Cansino Early Life
CJ Cansino was born on October 27, 1999, in the Philippines. Detailed information about his parents and early family life has not been widely documented in major public sources, so claims about his family background should be treated cautiously. What is clear from his basketball history is that he began developing seriously as a player while still young and eventually became one of the most highly regarded junior players in the UAAP.
Cansino attended UST Junior High School and represented the school in the UAAP juniors competition. By Grade 12, he had already established himself as one of the country’s most promising young basketball players. In 2017, during UAAP Season 80, he won the juniors Most Valuable Player award. He also recalled that 2017 was the year he began seriously collecting sneakers, using money from endorsements and his allowance.
His performances earned him a place with the UST Growling Tigers senior team. He entered the senior UAAP competition as a highly regarded prospect and quickly demonstrated that his junior success was not simply the result of playing against younger competition. His combination of scoring, rebounding, passing and athleticism made him one of the players to watch during his first senior season.
CJ Cansino Education
Cansino’s educational path is closely connected to his basketball development. He attended UST Junior High School, where he played for the Tiger Cubs and won the UAAP juniors MVP award in Season 80. His performances at that level made him one of the most prominent prospects in his age group.
He subsequently continued at the University of Santo Tomas and joined the Growling Tigers senior basketball programme. His first senior UAAP season came in 2018, when he was still a rookie. During that campaign, he earned UAAP Player of the Week recognition twice and produced a historic triple-double against the University of the East.
After leaving UST, Cansino transferred to the University of the Philippines and joined the Fighting Maroons. His transfer was officially announced in August 2020, although he had to sit out UAAP Season 83 because of residency rules. He eventually became eligible for Season 84 and played an important role in UP’s historic championship campaign.
CJ Cansino Career
Rise With the UST Growling Tigers
Cansino made his senior UAAP debut with the UST Growling Tigers in Season 81 in 2018. Even as a rookie, he immediately attracted attention because of his all-around game. In October 2018, he produced 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists against the UE Red Warriors. The performance made him the first UAAP rookie to record a triple-double since computerized statistics were introduced in 2003.
His rookie season was interrupted by a serious knee injury. The injury affected his availability and became an early challenge in his developing career. Despite the setback, he remained one of the most highly regarded young players in the league.
During his second season with UST, Cansino was named team captain. However, his time with the Growling Tigers eventually came to an end. In August 2020, he transferred to the University of the Philippines after an apparent fallout with UST. Cansino said at the time that although UST had been his dream school, he had consulted people close to him and believed UP was a better fit for him at that stage of his career.
UP Fighting Maroons
Cansino joined the UP Fighting Maroons ahead of UAAP Season 84. His transfer added another talented piece to a UP programme that was rapidly becoming one of the strongest teams in Philippine collegiate basketball. He had to wait through the residency period before making his competitive debut for the Maroons.
His most memorable moment with UP came during the 2022 UAAP Season 84 Finals against the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Cansino was dealing with a knee injury but returned for the decisive Game 3. With UP trailing late, he hit a three-pointer that tied the game and forced overtime. UP eventually won 72-69, capturing its first UAAP men’s basketball championship since 1986.
The championship was especially significant because UP had waited 36 years for another men’s basketball title. Cansino’s return from injury and his important three-pointer became part of the story of the historic championship.
Cansino subsequently underwent knee surgery and missed the entire UAAP Season 85 campaign. He returned for his final UAAP season, Season 86, before moving into professional basketball.
Iloilo United Royals
Cansino entered the professional ranks in January 2024 when he joined the Iloilo United Royals in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. His stint in Iloilo gave him an opportunity to adjust to professional basketball before entering the PBA.
He made a strong impression during his MPBL campaign. In 17 games, Cansino averaged approximately 18 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. His production helped establish him as a serious professional prospect ahead of the PBA Draft.
Meralco Bolts
Cansino declared for the 2024 PBA Draft and was selected by the Meralco Bolts with the 11th overall pick. He signed a two-year contract with the team in August 2024, beginning his PBA career with one of the league’s established franchises.
His transition to the PBA required adjustments because professional basketball is faster and more physically demanding than collegiate competition. Cansino credited Meralco’s team culture and veteran players, including Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto and Allein Maliksi, with helping him adapt to the professional environment.
During the 2024-25 PBA season, Cansino averaged 8.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 32 games according to available career statistics. His role has continued to develop as he gains experience in the professional league.
2026 PBA All-Star Selection
In 2026, Cansino received another important milestone in his professional career when he was selected as one of the North All-Star reserves for the PBA All-Star Weekend in Candon City, Ilocos Sur. He joined fellow Meralco player Chris Newsome on the North roster.
The selection came during his second year in the PBA and represented recognition of his growing profile within the league. It also marked another step in his progression from a highly regarded junior player to a professional basketball player receiving league-wide recognition.
CJ Cansino Trending: Why Is CJ Cansino Famous?
CJ Cansino is trending in September 2026 after announcing his engagement to longtime girlfriend Alliana Dolina, a popular Filipino content creator. Cansino shared photographs of the proposal on social media on September 12, accompanied by the caption “A&C forever.” Dolina also shared photographs from the engagement and wrote that it had always been and would always be him.
The engagement attracted particular attention because Cansino and Dolina have been together for many years. Reports describe them as longtime sweethearts who first met while they were students at the University of Santo Tomas. Dolina has previously discussed how Cansino introduced himself to her as a secret admirer on Twitter.
Their relationship subsequently became part of Dolina’s online content, with the couple appearing together in lifestyle, travel and personal videos. Their engagement therefore became both a sports story involving the Meralco guard and an entertainment and social-media story involving one of the Philippines’ recognizable young content creators.
CJ Cansino Personal Life
CJ Cansino is engaged to Alliana Dolina, a Filipino content creator known for lifestyle and personal-content videos. The couple announced their engagement in September 2026 following Cansino’s seaside proposal. Their engagement photographs showed Cansino proposing on one knee while Dolina displayed her engagement ring.
Cansino and Dolina’s relationship began when they were students at the University of Santo Tomas. Different reports have described the length of their relationship as eight or nine years, but all recent reports agree that they have been together for a substantial period dating back to their school years.
Away from basketball, Cansino has spoken about his interest in sneakers and gaming. His sneaker-collecting hobby began during his UST years, while he has also described gaming as one of his main ways of relaxing when he is not playing basketball. He has also explained that his Meralco jersey number, 71, has personal significance because it relates to the birthdays of his parents.
CJ Cansino Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
CJ Cansino was born on October 27, 1999, making him 26 years old in 2026. He is Filipino and has spent his basketball career in the Philippine collegiate and professional systems.
His religion is not clearly documented in reliable public biographical sources. Cansino has maintained a relatively private profile regarding his religious beliefs and has primarily been covered through his basketball career and relationship with Alliana Dolina.
Cansino is listed at approximately 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 metres) by several basketball databases, although FIBA lists him at 185 cm. He plays primarily as a guard and is known for his athleticism, versatility and ability to contribute in multiple statistical categories.
CJ Cansino Social Media Presence
CJ Cansino maintains a public social-media presence, particularly on Instagram, where he uses the handle @cjcansinoo. His account has featured basketball-related content as well as personal moments, including the September 2026 announcement of his engagement to Alliana Dolina.
His social-media presence has also contributed to his public profile outside basketball. His relationship with Dolina has been followed by fans for years, while his basketball career has given him an additional audience among UAAP and PBA supporters.
CJ Cansino Net Worth
CJ Cansino’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed through reliable financial sources. As a relatively young professional basketball player, his publicly documented income primarily comes from his professional basketball career, with possible additional earnings from endorsements, sponsorships and commercial opportunities.
His move from the MPBL to the PBA represented a significant professional step. He was selected 11th overall in the 2024 PBA Draft and signed a two-year contract with the Meralco Bolts. The exact value of that contract has not been reliably established in the sources reviewed for this biography.
Cansino has also had endorsement opportunities dating back to his teenage years. He previously discussed using money from endorsements and his allowance to build his sneaker collection while playing at UST. However, without a verified account of his contracts, assets and investments, a specific net-worth figure would be speculative.
CJ Cansino Legacy
CJ Cansino’s basketball journey is notable for the number of different stages it has contained. He began as a highly rated junior player at UST, became a UAAP senior player, transferred from UST to UP, helped UP win its first men’s basketball championship in 36 years, recovered from major knee problems and eventually entered professional basketball.
His role in UP’s 2022 championship is particularly memorable. Playing through injury in the decisive UAAP Finals game, he hit a game-tying three-pointer that sent Game 3 into overtime before UP completed its historic victory over Ateneo. That moment remains one of the defining episodes of his collegiate career.
His professional career is still developing. After a strong MPBL stint, Cansino became the 11th overall pick of the 2024 PBA Draft and later earned a place in the 2026 PBA All-Star roster. At 26, he remains in the early stages of his professional career, with the potential for his accomplishments in the PBA to become an increasingly important part of his basketball legacy.
Conclusion
CJ Cansino is a Filipino professional basketball player whose career has developed from junior UAAP stardom to collegiate championship success and professional basketball. After winning the UAAP juniors MVP award, making history as a UST rookie, transferring to UP and helping the Fighting Maroons win their first men’s championship in 36 years, he entered professional basketball with the Iloilo United Royals before becoming the 11th overall pick of the Meralco Bolts in 2024. His 2026 PBA All-Star selection added another milestone to his playing career, while his September 2026 engagement to longtime girlfriend Alliana Dolina brought renewed attention to his personal life.
Frequently Asked Questions About CJ Cansino
Who is CJ Cansino?
CJ Cansino is a Filipino professional basketball player who plays for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association.
How old is CJ Cansino?
CJ Cansino was born on October 27, 1999, making him 26 years old in 2026.
What is CJ Cansino’s full name?
His full name is Crispin John Garcia Cansino.
What team does CJ Cansino play for?
He plays for the Meralco Bolts in the PBA.
What position does CJ Cansino play?
Cansino primarily plays as a guard or shooting guard.
How tall is CJ Cansino?
He is generally listed at around 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 metres), although FIBA lists him at 185 cm.
Where did CJ Cansino go to college?
He played college basketball for the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and later the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
Did CJ Cansino win a UAAP championship?
Yes. He was part of the UP Fighting Maroons team that won the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball championship in 2022, ending UP’s 36-year title drought.
When did CJ Cansino enter the PBA?
Cansino entered the PBA after being selected 11th overall by the Meralco Bolts in the 2024 PBA Draft.
Was CJ Cansino selected for the 2026 PBA All-Star Game?
Yes. He was selected as a reserve for the North All-Stars during the 2026 PBA All-Star Weekend.
Who is CJ Cansino’s girlfriend?
CJ Cansino’s longtime girlfriend is Alliana Dolina, a Filipino content creator.
Is CJ Cansino engaged?
Yes. Cansino and Alliana Dolina announced their engagement in September 2026 following his proposal.
How long have CJ Cansino and Alliana Dolina been together?
Reports describe their relationship as dating back to their school years at the University of Santo Tomas, with recent reports putting the relationship at approximately eight to nine years.
What is CJ Cansino’s jersey number?
Cansino wears No. 71 for the Meralco Bolts. He has explained that the number has personal significance because it relates to his parents’ birthdays.
What is CJ Cansino’s net worth?
His exact net worth has not been publicly verified. His income sources include professional basketball and potential endorsements, but a reliable public valuation of his total wealth is unavailable.