One UAAP season, one Finals appearance, zero pressure.
Francis Lopez, the anticipated UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year, displayed no signs of jitters, posting 15 points and 11 rebounds in the University of the Philippines' one-sided Game One victory over La Salle on Wednesday.
READ: UP Maroons whip La Salle by 30 points in Game One mismatch
"I don’t feel any pressure. I just treat it like it’s another game," a confident Lopez told SPIN.ph.
Throughout the season where the Maroons consistently led, the former Gilas hotshot took pride in maintaining the team’s championship-worthy essence.
He said that not much has changed in their title-winning DNA.
"Nothing much (changed for me since the prelims), you know. We just stuck together like Coach Gold (Monteverde) was saying in our circle,” Lopez said.
"We just gotta talk when we have mistakes and everything, but now we’re just happy with the hard work that we had (in this game)."
The job is far from over, however, Lopez pointed out.
"We just have to still stay focused and just be ready for whatever because La Salle is a good team that won’t give up easily," he said.
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