Francis Lopez had the last laugh after absorbing a barrage of criticisms the whole season.

It got worse following his costly meltdown late in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals series against De La Salle University.

Four straight misses from the free throw line and an errant pass in the closing moments gave critics more reasons to malign the Filipino-American sophomore.

But the forward responded with the ultimate clapback: Hitting the biggest basket of the championship decider that paved the way for the Fighting Maroons to reign supreme in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

Finally, the Season 86 Rookie of the Year can call himself a champion.

“I’m thankful to them (teammates) for still believing in me after the Game 2 loss. It was a huge loss, especially for me. I let the team down in that game,” he said.

“But that didn’t stop me from working on my shots. Working on my confidence. I’m just so happy. It was a surreal feeling. This is actually my first time officially to win a championship my entire life,” Lopez added after UP’s 66-62 victory last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Lopez averaged 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during the Fighting Maroons finals rematch.

He scored 12 markers in Game 3, capped by the dagger triple, which gave UP a four-point lead with 1:12 left. Lopez grabbed 11 boards and dished out six assists, one block, and one assist.

Never mind the nine errors he committed.

In the end, Lopez got his doubters and naysayers to shut up.

“Like I said, I don’t care about what they say, you know, and I’m not here to please anybody from the outside, man. I’m not here to please anybody,” he said.

Lopez then gave his bashers a piece of his mind.

‘I’m thankful to them (teammates) for still believing in me after the Game 2 loss. It was a huge loss, especially for me. I let the team down in that game.’

“As a matter of fact, f*** them, man. I don’t give a s**t. I don’t give a s**t, to be honest. What I care about is the team, you know, what’s inside of us, and I’m just really happy that we got this win, and I can finally say that I’m officially a champion,” Lopez said.

With the championship trophy in hand, the shiny gold medal hanging on his neck and the warmth of the bonfire kissing his cheeks during the traditional celebration at the UP Sunken Garden Monday night, Lopez celebrated the sweet triumph.

A victory he humbly credited to the team that never doubted him even in the most trying of times.

“They still trusted me, you know. After that (Game 2) loss, you know, we still were able to talk to one another, and you know, it was just really a surreal moment, man,” he said.

They keep on believing in me, you know, and I’m just really happy that they’re still there for me, even though we got that loss. We were able to conquer it this time, so yep, I’m really happy.”