THE PBA lowered the boom on controversial NorthPort forward John Amores last Friday, but armchair pundits are convinced the pro league should have imposed a heavier sanction.
Amores was suspended for the entire mid-season Commissioner’s Cup without pay after getting involved in a shooting incident in Lumban, Laguna last month.
“In coordination with the management of NorthPort, the Commissioner has decided that John Amores will be suspended from all his games in the next conference (Commissioner’s Cup) of the PBA’s 49th season,” PBA legal counsel Atty. Ogie Narvasa said.
Magnolia star Calvin Abueva was suspended for 16 months in 2019 for a clothesline tackle on former TNT import Terrence Jones and a verbal altercation with Maika Rivera, the former girlfriend of Bobby Ray Parks Jr.
Abueva was then playing for Phoenix.
Former San Miguel Beer import Renaldo Balkman was initially banned for life in Asia’s pioneering pro league in 2013 after he strangled teammate Arwind Santos in their game against the now defunct Alaska franchise in 2013.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial lifted Balkman’s ban in 2018.
Narvasa, the son of former Chief Justice Andres, said the ban was due to Amores seeing action in an unsanctioned league.
“We’re not penalizing him for his criminal act. Bahala ang husgado doon,” Narvasa said. “Ito, (he’s being punished for) violations of PBA rules.”
The PBA said it will not condone Amores’ actions.
“Quarreling with other players in a pick-up game, engaging in a challenge to a fight, chasing after his protagonist with a handgun, and then shooting his gun are not consistent with the standard of behavior and image that the PBA wishes to project to its fans, particularly to its young followers,” the league said in a statement.
“The potential for young people to see Amores’ conduct as acceptable is disturbing, and this the PBA will not permit.”
The 6-foot-2 Amores will not be allowed to sit on the Batang Pier bench or watch the games in the venue.
But he can still join NorthPort in its daily practices and training, with minimal allowance.
For Amores to suit up anew in the PBA, “he must without delay submit to counseling to address his anger and violent tendencies, and clearance to play must be obtained from his counsellor,” according to Narvasa.
“Isolating him from his normal environment will not be helpful and healthy for his rehabilitation. He must learn to deal with his issues under as normal circumstances as possible,” the PBA said.
“It is under normal settings, including the challenges and stress they create, where he can fully exercise tolerance and restraint. In any case, he will be subjected to stiffer penalties and restrictions should his violent tendencies erupt during team activities.”
Amores allegedly chased and shot the victim, identified as Lee Calcada, at around 6:10 p.m. last Sept. 25 after they got into an altercation in a basketball game.
The game reportedly had a P4,000 bet.
CCTV footage of the incident that went viral showed Amores getting off a motorcycle driven by his younger brother with a gun and firing shots at the victim who, fortunately, was not hurt.
The same report said Amores and Calcada were playing in a hoops duel at Barangay Salac when they got into a heated altercation.
The former Jose Rizal University player challenged Calcada to a fight.
Calcada reportedly followed Amores at Barangay Maytalang Uno where he was shot by Amores.
Amores later surrendered and posted bail along with his brother John Red, but he is also still being probed by the PBA and the Games and Amusements Board.
Marcial likened the case to a father who takes a misbehaving child to task.
“Parang anak natin itong mga players. Kapag may anak tayo pinaparusahan natin, pero hindi natin pinapabayaan,” he said.
Amores is not likely off the hook and the waiting game if he will be banished for life in the PBA goes on.
