December 23 ------ IT won't be a Merry Christmas for John Amores after all. The controversial shooting guard of NorthPort had his playing license revoked by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) over the weekend, effectively prohibiting him from playing in the PBA and other professional leagues in the country.
Northport management told SPIN.ph it hasn't receive a copy yet of the GAB ruling as of post time. The GAB handed out the decision after completing its probe on Amores and his brother's involvement in a shooting incident in Lumban, Laguna last September over an alleged non-payment of a side bet in a game of basketball.
In its decision, the GAB said it found the former Jose Rizal University stalwart guilty of ''conduct unbecoming of a professional basketball player." "The respondent's license is revoked effective immediately," said the government regulatory body for professional sports in its memo signed by Chairman Francisco Rivera. "Accordingly, the respondent is no longer allowed to participate in any professional basketball game sanctioned by the board."
Commissioners Manuel Plaza III and Angel Bautista also signed the decision. Amores and his brother John Red face a frustrated homicide case after the player allegedly fired shots at a man identified as Lee Cacalda Lumangaya following a pick-up game last Sept. 25 in Laguna and involving a side bet of P4,000. The Amores brothers are currently out on bail. The arraignment and pre-trial were scheduled last Dec. 4.
Following the latest incident involving the 24-year-old cager, the PBA decided to suspend Amores for the entire Commissioner's Cup without pay, although he's allowed to attend Batang Pier practices and other team activities with minimal allowance. He's also barred from sitting on the NorthPort bench and watch games from the venue, At the same time, the league ordered Amores to undergo counselling in order to address his 'anger and violent tendencies.'
Amores has had a history of violent tendencies as shown during the NCAA Season 98 when he ran amok and punched opposing players during a game between the Heavy Bombers and College of St. Benilde. The episode eventually led to his suspension and indefinite ban in the country's grand old collegiate league, and ultimately, being expelled from JRU's men's basketball program.
Amores was also once involved in another fit of anger inside the court when he punched Mark Belmonte of the University of the Philippines in a Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) game in 2022. A 'serious physical injury' case was filed against him after Belmonte suffered a gum fracture, teeth dislocation, and mouth lacerations. Selected No. 51 overall in the Season 48 draft by the Batang Pier, Amores signed a two-year contract extension with the franchise just before the start of Season 49. Just recently, Amores was spotted playing in an exhibition game in Duero, Bohol in a move which reportedly had the blessings of NorthPort management.
Source: spin.ph
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