GAB revokes Amores’ license

Controversial NorthPort shooting guard John Amores is now barred from playing professional basketball in the country following his involvement in a shooting incident in Laguna last September.

The Games and Amusement Board (GAB) has revoked Amores’ playing license upon the completion of the agency’s probe which effectively shut the door on the erring Batang Pier’s return to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Amores was found guilty of “conduct unbecoming of a professional basketball player” thus the revocation of his license, according to the six-page decision by the government regulatory board for professional sports signed by GAB chairman Francisco Rivera.

“The respondent’s license is revoked effective immediately,” according to the decision also signed by commissioners Manuel Plaza III and Angel Bautista.

“Accordingly, the respondent is no longer allowed to participate in any professional basketball game sanctioned by the board.”

The 6-foot-2 Jose Rizal University product and his 20-year-old brother were charged with attempted homicide after Amores shot Lee Cacalda in Barangay Maytalang Uno in Lumban after engaging in a heated argument during a basketball game involving a P4,000 wager last 25 September.

CCTV footage showed that Amores got off a motorcycle driven by his brother and shot at Cacalda before speeding off toward the direction of Pagsanjan. No casualties were reported.

Amores and his brother voluntarily surrendered the following day and were released on bail.

The PBA last October has suspended Amores from playing for NorthPort in the Commissioner’s Cup without pay for “conduct detrimental to the league.”

Amores was also banned from game venues during his suspension but was still allowed to practice with the Batang Pier and join their activities outside the league.

Furthermore, Amores was ordered to undergo counseling “to address his anger and violent tendencies.”

Amores was supposed to redeem himself in the PBA after a couple of violent outbursts during his college days.

He was involved in a punching incident with University of the Philippines players during a pre-season game two years ago.

Amores was also charged with assault after running amok in a punching spree against College of Saint Benilde players in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the same year that got him banned from the league indefinitely and expelled from JRU’s basketball program.