Jose Rizal University swingman John Amores is extending his sincere apology to the University of the Philippines’ Mark Belmonte after the former landed a punch on the latter, prematurely ending the two teams’ tiff in the PG Flex Linoleum-UCBL Preseason Tournament Tuesday afternoon.
“Una po sa lahat, humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa aking nagawa lalo na kay Mark Belmonte,” expressed Amores, who sat out the Heavy Bombers’ last NCAA campaign, but is now back as a key cog in their hope to return to relevance.
“Sorry po at nadala po ako ng emotion ko. Sorry din po sa UP community, sa JRU community, at sa lahat ng coaches.”
State U was up, 52-41, late in the third quarter when the 23-year-old Amores and the 19-year-old Belmonte were wrestling for position and the JRU returnee hit the Fighting Maroon, who wound up bloodied. Play was paused at that point for game officials to ensure no further incidents took place, and for medical staff to check on Belmonte.
UP was ultimately awarded the win by default.
According to Amores, the competition between him and the incoming UPIS senior was getting intense long before the unfortunate incident. Still, he was the first to admit that was no excuse to lose his cool.
“Hindi ko po nagawa yun para magpasikat, kundi dahil nadala lang ako ng emotion,” he remarked. “Pasensya na po sa lahat nang nadismaya. Hindi po ako ganun kasamang tao.”
JRU’s two-way stud furthered that he hopes this unfortunate incident becomes a teaching point not just for him, but for everybody else as well. That goes even more so for his one-year-old daughter, whom he said he plays for and hopes to have a future career in basketball for.
“Sana, maging example ‘to sa lahat nang nakakita at nakanood ng pangyayari, ganun din sa anak ko na sana, wag niya itong matutunan at gayahin,” he shared.
“Muli, humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa inyong lahat. Matututo po ako rito at mas magiging mabuting tao pagkatapos nito.”
On the other hand, according to UP program director Bo Perasol, Belmonte requires an operation on his general mouth area. He will discuss with his coaching staff and only then will they determine their next steps following the unfortunate incident.
