Francis Lopez (basketball)

Francis Leo S. "Lebron" Lopez (born May 17, 2003) is a Filipino-Angolan college basketball player for the UP Fighting Maroons of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). After breaking out in the Philippine high school basketball scene, he was set to play in the Overtime Elite (OTE) league, but due to visa issues, never got to play there. Instead, he committed to play for UP.

Francis Lopez
UP Fighting Maroons
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueUAAP
Personal information
Born (2003-05-17) May 17, 2003
NationalityFilipino / Angolan
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High schoolAugustinian Abbey School
La Salle Green Hills
Ateneo de Manila
CollegeUniversity of the Philippines (2023–present)
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Philippines
Southeast Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2021 Hanoi Team

High school career

Lopez first played varsity basketball for Augustinian Abbey School (AAS) at 13 years old.[1] He also continued growing in height, from 5'3" when he 10 years old, to 6'3" at 13 years of age. He then gained significant attention after starring for Las Piñas in the 2018 edition of NCR Palaro, an annual sporting competition for youth from all over Metro Manila, where they just missed the medal rounds.[1][2]

La Salle Green Hills

LSGH assistant coach and scout Anton Brodett recruited Lopez to play for La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) after seeing him play in a neighborhood basketball court in Las Piñas.[3] However, he averaged 2.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 3.4 minutes, seeing action in only 10 of their 22 games in all.[4] He was also set to play in the NCAA Season 94 Shooting Stars competition, but didn't get to compete and was replaced by Sebastian Locsin.[5][6] LSGH went on to finish as runner-ups to Mapúa for Season 94.[3]

Ateneo de Manila

After Season 94, LSGH underwent changes in management.[3] That, and talks with Ateneo assistant coach Ford Arao, prompted Lopez to transfer to Ateneo de Manila.[3][4]

Lopez debuted in Season 82 with 14 points and seven rebounds in a win over the Adamson Baby Falcons.[7] In their first loss of the season, which was against the FEU Baby Tamaraws, he had 18 points, 14 boards, and five blocks.[8] Ateneo bounced back with a win over the UPIS Junior Maroons, in which he had 20 points and three blocks.[9] He then had a double-double of 17 points and 18 rebounds over the UST Tiger Cubs.[10] At the end of the first round of eliminations, he was fifth in the MVP race as Ateneo had a record of 4–3.[11] Against the NSNU Bullpups, he had 17 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks, but missed a go-ahead dunk that eventually led to a close loss.[12] At the end of eliminations, he was third in the MVP race as Ateneo went on to clinch the 3rd seed.[13] However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to Adamson.[14] He was awarded a spot on the UAAP Juniors Mythical Team at the end of the season, and finished with averages of 16.0 points on 45% shooting, 9.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.[3]

In 2020, Lopez made it to the NBTC 24, a list of the top high school basketball players in the country.[15] He was named among the 2020 SLAM Philippines Rising Stars.[16] Two years later, he got to play in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic.[17]

Failed stint with Overtime Elite

On July 13, 2021, Lopez signed with the Overtime Elite basketball league.[18] However, he never got to join the league, as his visa was constantly rejected by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).[19] He only received $25,000 of his $100,000 deal but it was for the use of his image and likeness in the promotional materials of OTE.[20] He then spent time with the Philippines' men's national team and attempted to play for the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL, but due to his Filipino-Angolan heritage, did not qualify as an Asian import.[21]

College career

UP Fighting Maroons

For the next phase of his basketball career, it was expected that Lopez would either play overseas or play for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.[17][22] On January 21, 2023, on the night Ateneo was celebrating its Season 85 basketball championship with a bonfire, it was reported that Lopez had committed to playing for the UP Fighting Maroons.[23] Aside from his family and friends, he also credited UP star player and Gilas teammate Carl Tamayo for helping him in his decision.[21] His former agency also released a letter saying that since he didn't attain a US visa, his contract with them is considered void ab initio (void from start), clarifying eligibility concerns.[20]

National team career

Junior national team

In 2019, Lopez was named to the Gilas U-19 team for the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship.[24]

Senior national team

In 2021, Lopez made his senior national team debut against Indonesia in the third window of the 2022 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.[25] He contributed eight points and five rebounds in just nine minutes as Gilas beat Indonesia.[26] That year, he was the final cut of the team before Gilas competed in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[27]

In 2022, Lopez joined Gilas Pilipinas for that year's Southeast Asian Games.[28] On his 19th birthday, he had 17 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and a plus-minus rating of 23 in a win over Cambodia.[29] He followed it up with 18 points on 7-for-7 in a win over Malaysia.[30] They were on the verge of sweeping the tournament until they lost to Indonesia in the finals, settling for a silver medal.[31] Later that year, he played in both the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers and the FIBA Asia Cup.[32][33]

Personal life

Lopez is Filipino-Angolan.[34] He got his nickname "LeBron" from his family and friends, as he was the tallest in their neighborhood.[1] He also looks up to NBA superstar LeBron James.[3]

Lopez has supported Bongbong Marcos' and Sara Duterte's presidential and vice presidential campaigns respectively as he joined the BBM-Sara Celebrity All-Star Game to help undecided voters.[35]

References
  1. Terrado, Reuben (June 24, 2021). "How Francis Lopez transformed into LeBron the Gilas prodigy". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  2. "P'que City to host2015 NCR Palaro". Philstar.com. September 21, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  3. Leongson, Randolph B. (September 27, 2020). "Is LeBron Lopez worth the hype? Hear what coaches had to say". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  4. Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin (January 27, 2020). "UAAP 82: Lebron Lopez takes flight after taking talents to Ateneo | ABS-CBN Sports". Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  5. Leongson, Randolph B. (August 24, 2018). "San Beda stars expected to shine brightest in NCAA All-Star events". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  6. Li, Matthew (August 31, 2018). "San Beda blitzes Shooting Stars Challenge". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  7. "NU pounds FEU to open title defense, Lopez and Lazaro shine for post-Sotto Ateneo". Tiebreaker Times. November 13, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  8. "NU Bullpups roll to 3–0 as FEU-D deals Ateneo first loss". Tiebreaker Times. November 21, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  9. "Quiambao-powered NU roll to 5–0 as FEU-D stifles UST for fourth straight win". Tiebreaker Times. November 27, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  10. Times, Tiebreaker (December 2, 2019). "NU Bullpups closer to UAAP Boys' Basketball first round sweep". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  11. Times, Tiebreaker (January 11, 2020). "Adamson's John Figueroa surprise leader in UAAP Boys Basketball MVP race". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  12. Times, Tiebreaker (January 12, 2020). "NU Bullpups weather Padrigao's 30-point explosion to go to 8–0". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  13. "Adamson's Jake Figueroa runs away with UAAP 82 Boys' Basketball MVP". Tiebreaker Times. February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  14. "Adamson boots out Ateneo, advances to UAAP 82 Boys Basketball semis, NBTC Nationals". Tiebreaker Times. February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  15. "Rhayyan Amsali is top HS player; Quiambao, Tamayo go 2–3 in NBTC 24". Tiebreaker Times. March 20, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  16. Flojo, Enzo (September 18, 2020). "Slam names Francis Lopez among rising PH hoop stars". Ateneo de Manila University. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  17. "What's next for Francis Lopez? Overseas, he bares". Tiebreaker Times. July 30, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  18. Jordan, Jason (July 13, 2021). "Overtime Elite Signs Wing Francis 'LeBron' Lopez from the Philippines". si.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  19. Li, Matthew (February 4, 2022). "Lebron Lopez's camp sues US Immigration for rejecting visa application". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  20. "EWP clarifies: Contract with Francis Lopez is null and void". Tiebreaker Times. January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  21. Li, Matthew (January 21, 2023). "Lopez says dad, lola, Tamayo played huge part in decision to go to UP". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  22. "Francis 'LeBron' Lopez again part of Ateneo's plans for the future?". Spin.ph. December 22, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  23. Ganglani, Naveen (January 21, 2023). "After 'curveballs, few distractions,' LeBron Lopez jumps from Ateneo to UP". RAPPLER. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  24. Li, Matthew (June 29, 2019). "Second generation cagers Duremdes, Laure headline U16 Gilas Youth pool". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  25. Leongson, Randolph B. (June 15, 2021). "Lopez, Heading, Chiu to make Gilas debuts vs Indonesia". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  26. Reyes, Kate (June 18, 2021). "8 points, 5 boards in 9 minutes? 'No pressure,' says LeBron Lopez in Gilas debut". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  27. Ramos, Gerry (June 24, 2021). "Teen LeBron Lopez the final cut in 12-man Gilas lineup for OQT". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  28. Li, Matthew (May 5, 2022). "Kiefer in, Dwight, Bolick out for Gilas SEAG team". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  29. Bacnis, Justine (May 17, 2022). "SEA Games: Birthday boy Lebron Lopez stars in Gilas' 68-point beatdown of Cambodia". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  30. Bacnis, Justine (May 18, 2022). "SEA Games: Pogoy, Wright lead way, Lopez goes perfect as Gilas cruise to third win". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  31. Terrado, Reuben (May 22, 2022). "Indonesia ends long Philippine reign as king of SEA Games basketball". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  32. Li, Matthew (June 25, 2022). "Gilas to only field 11 players in FIBA third window". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  33. Bacnis, Justine (July 15, 2022). "Francis Lopez relishes surprise start for Gilas vs India". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  34. Leongson, Randolph B. (September 16, 2020). "What convinced Lebron Lopez to stay in Ateneo?". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  35. Sararaña, Pegeen Maisie M. (April 8, 2022). "BBM-Sara Celebrity All-Star event in Cebu City for those undecided". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
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