UP Fighting Maroons’ Francis Lopez. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines’ player Francis Lopez took full responsibility for his actions during the Fighting Maroons’ recent carnival trip in Subic.
CJ Cansino uploaded the trip of the Fighting Maroons on his YouTube vlog, where Lopez was seen pulling the mask of an employee in the “horror train.”
The clip of Lopez’s video went viral to the dismay of several social media users.
The UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year issued an apology on Tuesday saying that it was not his intention to “hurt anyone.”
“On a recent outing with my teammates to a carnival in Subic, I inadvertently hurt a carnival employee in one of the carnival rides. This thoughtless moment was recorded on video and was later posted on social media, and I take full responsibility for what happened,” Lopez wrote. “I together with CJ and the team have tried to reach out to the employee to apologize to him in person, but we have yet to track him down. We will continue to look for him because I want to talk to him and let him know that it was never my intention to hurt anyone.”
“I am sorry for any harm that I have caused, and I am committed to learning from this experience. I will do my best to be more mindful of my actions in the future, and I will make every effort to remember that what I do reflects on the values of my family, my team, and the university I represent. Thank you to the UP community for your support and for holding me accountable for my actions. On the court and off it, I promise to do my best not to let you down,” he added.
Cansino, who posted the vlog, was the first to issue an apology on about their carnival trip.
Una po sa lahat, humihingi ako ng dispensa sa tao behind the mask at sa mga nakapanood ng vlog. I take full responsibility for what happened. (1/2) https://t.co/QJWNN8OYmZ
— Cj Cansino (@cjcansino) December 25, 2023
UP is coming off another heartbreaking Finals Game 3 loss to the Kevin Quiambao-led La Salle in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball finals.
The Fighting Maroons blew their dominant Game 1 win and their best record of 12-2 in the elimination round before dethroning the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Final Four.
Lopez is set for his sophomore season with UP, while Cansino has exhausted his remaining playing years in the UAAP with Malick Diouf.