Daily Tribune‘I don’t think anybody, in the near future, would be able to fill that one.’
Francis Lopez’s looming absence will serve as a major blow to the UP Fighting Maroons quest for back-to-back UAAP men’s basketball titles.
Photograph courtesy of UAAP
University of the Philippines (UP) is in for a tough challenge in its title defense following the departure of Francis Lopez just months before the start of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
“There’s no question about how huge of a hole Francis has left in the team with his departure,” UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol told DAILY TRIBUNE on Tuesday.
“I don’t think anybody, in the near future, would be able to fill that one.”
However, the architect of the Fighting Maroons’ successful basketball program, which resulted in two titles in the past four seasons, remains optimistic about the Diliman-based squad’s chances of a repeat-crown.
It will be a challenging title-retention bid, but grizzled holdovers Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano and Jacob Bayla along with transferee Rey Remogat are ready to step up for the maroon-clad squad.
Lopez, the Season 86 Rookie of the Year, bid farewell to his alma mater on Monday after two years, leaving behind a winning legacy following his heroics in last year’s finals against De La Salle University that went the full distance.
The 6-foot-6 high-flying forward, who forgoes his remaining three years of eligibility, is taking his talents abroad as an import for Japan B.League’s Fighting Eagles Nagoya.
Lopez was instrumental in UP’s Game 3 finals victory in a rematch with Season 86 championship tormentors Green Archers led by two-time Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao.
The Filipino-American got the ultimate clapback against his doubters following a Game 2 meltdown when he came up with clutch baskets and crucial plays to deliver UP to the Promised Land.
Lopez averaged 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during the finals.
He scored 12 markers in Game 3, capped by the dagger triple, which gave UP a four-point lead with 1:12 left.
Lopez also grabbed 11 boards and dished out six assists, one block, and one assist in what eventually became his final game wearing the State U uniform.
