PBA to sit down with Amores

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will be in touch with NorthPort guard John Amores following the revocation of his professional license by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) last week.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial told DAILY TRIBUNE that they would tackle the case once he formally receives the decision from the regulatory body.

Known for his temper inside the court, Amores was involved in a scary shooting incident following a pickup basketball game in Lumban, Laguna last September.

Although nobody got hurt, the 25-year-old Amores and his brother were both charged with attempted homicide. He was allowed to post bail but was suspended from seeing action in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup.

Marcial said they are still awaiting from the decision by GAP.

“I haven’t received a letter from GAB. I would talk to Amores but until I got the letter, that’s all I can say for now,” Marcial said.

The PBA is no stranger to players having their license revoked.

In 2020, Calvin Abueva, then playing for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, got his GAB license revoked due to his frequent on-court scuffles.

Abueva did get his license reinstated in the same year but had to fulfill several conditions by GAB, which included a mandatory drug test.

The 36-year-old forward has since moved on and is currently doing very well for the Magnolia Hotshots.

Last October, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Chair of the Senate Sports Committee, urged GAB to tighten its parameters before granting athletes licenses.

“They need to check the athletes thoroughly before issuing a permit to play. It’s important to know if he (Amores) passed on his mental health check or anger management,” Go said.

“At your level, you must check before you issue permits. It’s a good thing no one got hurt but what if the target was killed? Kindly strengthen your rules or policy.”

“Prevention is important so that we can avoid it and not regret our actions in the end.”

Amores first made headlines when he went on a punching spree when he was still playing for Jose Rizal University in Season 98 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The league slapped him with an indefinite ban and was removed from the Heavy Bombers’ roster.