The Fighting Eagles Nagoya officially announce the signing of UAAP champion Francis Lopez for the 2025-26 Japan B.LEAGUE season.
Francis Lopez is officially taking flight from Diliman to Nagoya.
This is after the Fighting Eagles Nagoya confirmed their signing of the former UAAP champion and Rookie of the Year for the upcoming 2025-26 Japan B.LEAGUE season.
After helping the UP Fighting Maroons to the UAAP Season 87 title, Lopez is looking forward to embarking on his new basketball journey overseas.
"I think it's the right decision for me to go pro this time," Lopez said.
He also added: “When you have these kinds of opportunities, it’s hard to say no.”
[ALSO READ: Francis Lopez bids UP goodbye, turns pro with B. League]
The high-flying Lopez played a key role in UP’s latest championship run, averaging 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 blocks.
He also delivered one of the biggest shots of the season — a dagger three-pointer in Game 3 of the Finals that sealed the Fighting Maroons’ second title in the last four seasons.
[ALSO READ: Francis Lopez shrugs off doubters after clutch three for UP in Game 3 vs La Salle]
For Lopez, the decision was as much about family and the future as it was about basketball.
“I wasn’t born rich so for me to have this chance to succeed in life, of course I will take it,” he shared.
The former Fighting Maroon joins a Nagoya team that finished 30-30 in the 2024–25 B.LEAGUE season, missing the playoffs and finishing fifth in the Central Conference. The Fighting Eagles were also fifth in the wildcard race.
With the move, Lopez becomes the latest in a growing line of Filipino standouts making waves in Asia --- joining Kai Sotto (Koshigaya Alphas), Kiefer Ravena (Yokohama B-Corsairs), Ray Parks Jr. (Osaka Evessa), Matthew Wright (Kawasaki Brave Thunders), AJ Edu (Nagasaki Velca), and Dwight Ramos (Levangga Hokkaido) currently in Japan's top division.
[ALSO READ: Why B.LEAGUE? Matthew Wright gets real on growing competition after third year in Japan]
He also follows in the footsteps of former UP teammates Carl Tamayo (Changwon SG Lakers) and JD Cagulangan (Suwon KT Sonicboom), who turned pro to play in the KBL.