Cansino, Tigers express grievances on food, being homesick, financial budget

Controversy involving University of Santo Tomas men’s basketball team intensified on Wednesday after former skipper CJ Cansino released screenshots of their alleged online group chat discussing their situation in the reported training bubble in Sorsogon.

In his Twitter account, Cansino showed members of the team expressing their grievances on the state of their training camp, particularly the food being prepared for them.

READ: CJ Cansino dismisses claims on ‘fast’ UP recruitment, circulating talks about bubble life in Sorsogon

It appeared that Cansino, who transferred to University of the Philippines a day after he was removed from the squad last week, initiated making the group chat to share their situation to their parents and guardians.

“Hindi po namin nagugustuhan yung food dito at konti lang kasi kaya yung iba sa amin umoorder ng fast food kaso ang problema, nung nagkasakit yung iba sa amin, sa amin sinisisi kung bakit kami nagkakasakit pero sa tingin namin dahil sa luto nila dahil puro pork at mamantika,” Cansino wrote in the group chat.

Several players supported Cansino’s claim, including Brent Paraiso, Bismarck Lina and Ira Bataller.

“Tsaka po yung bigay ng food sobrang sakto lang po. Never po naging sobra yung ulam na binibigay samin. Tapos sobrang dami po natitira na ulam sa kanila, pero di binibigay samin,” Paraiso wrote.

“Sabi po samin ng nagluluto dito, bago pa daw kami pumunta dito, maysakit na daw kami,” Bataller wrote.

Even Soulemane Chabi Yo wanted to leave the training camp, saying he “was not happy for all this.”

“For me, even if can go back to Manila now, I’m ready. But if not yet pa, basta uwi na tayo after two to three months maximum,” Chabi Yo wrote.

“Me I’m just trying to adjust but it’s difficult. Homesick, very bored here, poor signal, different routine from what we used to,” he added.

“Stress po, tapos pag nagkakasakit po kami ditto, wala pojng nag-aalaga. Sarili lang namin katulong pag nagkakasakit po,” Rhenz Abando wrote.

Cansino’s posts, which he took down later, went viral on social media while the Joint Administrative Order Group and UAAP officials are meeting to update on UST’s internal probe of the training bubble in Capuy, Sorsogon, which is a breach of health protocols during the pandemic.

READ: UST athletic director Fr. Abogado resigns amid training bubble controversy