Happy Birthday, Christopher “Chris” Cantonjos ( Sep 22 )

Happy Birthday, Christopher “Chris” Cantonjos

1999 PBA Rookie Draft direct hire
2002 PBA Governors’ Cup champion
4x UAAP champion
UST Growling Tigers center
3-PBA team veteran
8-season PBA player
3x PBL champion

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

Christopher Acebado Cantonjos plays center-forward for the Red Bull squad in the PBL Import Reinforced conference. Born on September 22, 1974, he is a native of Donsol est, Bicol and the second in a brood of three. Openg, as often called by his peers and his younger sister spent his elementary days at Donsol est Elementary school wehre he first got a taste of playing street basketball. He started playing the game when he was a third grader, but was never too serious about it. It was all play for Chris, not knowing what was in store for him in the future. "Wala talaga sa isip ko na makalalaro ako sa PBL", he said smiling. He went to the National Comprehensive High School also situated in their town. There he contemplated more about the game of basketball where his talent was slowly building up. With his height, muscle and savvy, being a varsity player was just around the corner. His friend Archan, a childhood pal, had a big influence on him. "Malaking bagay ang naging pag-akit sa akin ni Archan sa paglalaro ko at mabuo ang hilig ko sa basketball, "he said. He then started playing in minor leagues and from there never looked back. the Knights in the NCAA. He showed tremendous potentials of becoming a cage superstar and that's what impressed Coach Nemie Villegas. "Si coach ang nagturo sa akin mag-dribble at lalong ma-improve ko ang laro, kaya malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa kanya", he said. Incidentally, basketball was not his cup of tea when he was young. His first love was long jump and high jump. Chris comes from a family of athletes. His father was an instructor of the game which made him doubly interested in it, while his mother was once a shotput player in their town. His elder brother, an accountant, is not that enthusiastic about sports, but gives his full support to Chris. "Malaking bagay yung sinusuportahan ka ng pamilya mo sa lahat ng ginagawa mo, lalo kang ginaganahan para magpatuloy", he adds. During his junior year, he transferred to Letran College in Manila to continue his studies and also to pursue his dribbling for When asked why the sudden change of heart, from long jump to basketball, he said "Siguro dahil na rin sa hirap ng buhay. Tapos nakikita ko na malaki ang suweldo ng mga players ng basketball. Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa pamilya ko", he said. He comes from an average family of five. His childhood experience isn't that prosperous so it motivated him to work even harder in his newfound career. Chris loves his family very much and wishes nothing more than to make them happy and secured. "Sila ang nagiging inspirasyon ko sa paglalaro. Bukod sa natutulungan ko sila e' nag-eenjoy pa ako sa ginagawa ko", he said. He is an optimist and believes that everything is possible if you just put your heart into it. He also plans to put up a grocery store for his family in Bicol and hopes that it would be an alternative source of income if ever he retires from basketball. Chris is now taking up Commerce at the University of Santo Tomas. He plans to put up his own business as soon as he graduates. He played for the RP youth team in 1993 before being drafted by Instafood. He moved to Red Bull late last year. He was also very instrumental during the time UST won back to back championships in the UAAP. He played with Denns Espino, now prized rookie of Sta. Lucia Realty in the PBA. So how does he feel about being left out by his contemporaries? "Wala sa akin yun, talaga namang mas magaling sila sa akin at mas ahead sila sa paglalaro", he said humbly. "Sa ngayon, wala pa talaga sa isip ko ang PBA. Ang totoo ay pamilya ko muna ang napagtutuunan ko ng atensyon ko." Anyway, Chris is doing well with Red Bull right now, and with their team moving closer and closer to capturing a championship, he couldn't ask for more. Although Chris has still to develop more consistency during games, it won't take long for him to mature and hopefully be compared to the likes of Bong Hawkins, Bobby Jose or Terry Saladana. Everything is possible for a player who has his heart for the game, like Chris.