University of the Philippines rookie Francis Lopez was grateful to get his first taste of UAAP win after being granted eligibility by the league’s board. 

The Filipino-Angolan was one of the Fighting Maroons’ featured recruits in their Season 86 redemption campaign. 

Following his transfer to UP from Ateneo, though, the 20-year-old forward's eligibility was up in the air as his signing with Overtime Elite, a United States-based professional basketball league, got in the way. 

Thankfully, Lopez did not suit up even once for Overtime which helped his cause to get clearance and play for UP. 

In his debut for the Season 84 champions, Lopez took care of UP on the defensive end after finishing with 13 rebounds and five points. 

“Really thankful, another opportunity to build up my name and hopefully I can do that and I’m just really happy that I’m able to play this college team which is UP and I wanna thank everybody who helped me and gave this opportunity in UAAP,” Lopez said. 

Though reigning MVP Malick Diouf and comebacking Cj Cansino took turns to carry the assault for the Fighting Maroons, Lopez shone brilliantly on his own to the delight of the UP community. 

“I’m happy about the game, that's what matters right now. With my performance, that’s besides the point. But right now, we got our first W and hopefully we get the other ones even more in the upcoming games,” Lopez said.

“Surprised about the crowd there’s a lot of people that built up my confidence. Hopefully, in the upcoming games they will continue to support us and I think they will,” he added. 

In the departure of Carl Tamayo to play overseas and Zavier Lucero’s recovery and signing in the PBA, Lopez’s presence on the floor has become a solace to the reeling Fighting Maroons side.