Francis Lopez had choice words for all his doubters as he bagged his first-ever title with the UP Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 87.
Francis Lopez has heard it all—criticism, doubt, and even outright dismissal of his skills.
But in the decisive moments of Game 3 in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals, the UP Fighting Maroons star let his game do the talking.
With just over a minute left in regulation and the DLSU Green Archers mounting a comeback, Lopez found himself wide open beyond the arc.
Despite a challenging night filled with nine turnovers, he launched the shot with unwavering confidence.
"I was like, 'I'm going to shoot this,' and it went in," Lopez recounted.
"It was a surreal moment, but the game wasn’t over. I had to keep my composure. After that buzzer, everything sunk in—our hard work, the support from the UP community, and my family. I want to thank the Man above. We really worked hard and made it happen."
The booming three-pointer gave UP a critical 64-60 lead with 1:12 left, a cushion the Fighting Maroons would maintain to secure a 66-62 victory and dethrone La Salle in front of a record-setting crowd of 25,248 fans at the Big Dome.
The win marked the Fighting Maroons’ fourth UAAP men’s basketball title and their second in four seasons.
“I would like to thank them for their trust in me. We still was able to talk with one another. It's a really surreal moment, man, I'm just happy that we got that loss and we were able to conquer this time,” said Lopez.
Lopez’s redemption story was as much about resilience as it was about basketball.
After a tough Game 2 performance, which saw him miss four free throws to time and take the lead in the final minute, the former Rookie of the Year silenced critics who questioned his place in UP’s championship journey.
[ALSO READ: Francis Lopez offers no excuse after 4 missed free throws in final minute of Game 2 vs La Salle]
Lopez finished the game with an impressive stat line of 12 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
“I don't care what they say. I am not here to please anybody outside, man. As a matter of fact, f--k them. I don't give a s--t,” said Lopez.
“What I care about is the team, what's inside of us and I'm really happy that we got this win and I can officially say that I am a champion.”