Almost one year has passed since the infamous brawl between Jose Rizal University’s John Amores and College of Saint Benilde, and the two teams are set to face off once more in the second round of the NCAA, with a possible Final Four berth at stake on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Amores himself is poised to make his debut in the PBA as a member of Northport, aiming to leave behind the ghosts of his past mistakes.
(c) Peter Baltazar/Tiebreaker Times
“Excited ako kasi ito yung pinaka hinintay ko eh. Ito na yung pinapangarap ko na PBA kaya excited ako sa parating na opening at game namin, masaya lang ako,” said Amores.
“Ito na yung next chapter ng buhay ko, magiging work ko, at dito na ako magpopokus.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Amores’ future in the sport of basketball was uncertain.
He was forced to step away from both the team and the school, and he became involved in a criminal case with victims Jimboy Pasturan and Taine Davis.
Amores was also expelled from the Heavy Bombers and was given a soft ban by the NCAA.
Many assumed that Amores’ career was over.
(C) Charles Tiu
Soon, Amores reached a settlement in his case with Pasturan and Davis, providing him with an opportunity to renew his basketball career and turn over a new leaf.
“Mahirap para sa akin kasi hindi ko nga alam kung saan ako kukuha ng paraan eh, pero ayun nga, kahit papaano nakapag-settle naman ako,” shared Amores.
“Thankful ako sa Benilde kasi nakipagusap ako, na-settle namin yung incident, at thankful ako na pumayag sila na mag-settle. Binigyan nila akong pagkakataon para maging ok kami on both sides.”
Amores spent the next year moving from one league to another, making appearances in the ASEAN Basketball League with Zamboanga and in the MPBL with Muntinlupa, all while reflecting on the consequences of his actions to ensure he wouldn’t squander the opportunity given to him to revive his career.
Eventually, Amores’ hard work paid off as Northport selected him with the 51st overall pick in the 2023 PBA Draft and signed him to a one-year contract.
On the week of the anniversary of his incident with the Blazers, Amores is set to make his PBA debut on Friday, and the 23-year-old wing from Laguna is ready to carry the lessons he’s learned on his road to redemption with him.
“Ang dami kong sigurong lesson na nakuha sa NCAA na kailangan ko i-apply sa PBA, sa mga pinagdaanan ko. MPBL, ABL, sa mga liga na ganoon. Marami kasi ‘yun yung pinagdaanan ko doon na kailangan kong i-apply sa PBA, mas i-embrace siya, mas madadala ko yung nangyari sa akin para hindi na mangyari sa PBA,” the breadwinner said.
“Kasi ito na yung future ko eh, trabaho na yung pinapagusapan eh, kailangan ko pang hawakan ‘to, kailangan kong mahalin ‘to. Ito na ‘yun eh, nandito na ako, at ayokong sayangin yung bawat pagkakataon.”
As he enters the PBA landscape, the pinnacle of Philippine basketball, Amores has a chance to carve out a legacy for himself separate from the shadow of his past sins, and he knows better than to squander that opportunity now.
