Lesson learned.
That is what Jose Rizal University senior John Amores said after playing his first ever game in the NCAA since his incident with University of the Philippines-commit Mark Belmonte during the preseason.
Back on July 26 during the PG FLEX-UCBL Invitational Tournament, Amores and Belmonte figured in a skirmish that put the basketball community in disgust.
As the two were jockeying for position, they exchanged elbows. Amores though did not like the physicality given to him, throwing a punch at a down Belmonte.
The game was stopped after the scuffle.
Days after the incident, Amores shared that he reached out to Gerry Abadiano to connect him with Belmonte so that he can personally apologize to him.
“Nakahingi na rin ako ng dispensa sa kanya. Nag-message din ako sa teammate niya na si Abadiano, humingi ako ng dispensa sa nagawa ko kasi nadala naman din naman ako ng emotion ko,” said Amores, who was teammates with Abadiano during the 2019 Slam Rising Stars.
“Kung okay lang mag-usap kami, humingi ako pasensya sa personal – mas okay ‘yun kasi makakapagusap kami.”
For now, he hopes to move on from the incident as he shifts his focus to the Heavy Bombers’ NCAA campaign.
And he is excited for what lies ahead.
“Yung feeling ko ngayon sobrang excited ‘cause na-sobrahan ata ‘yung excited namin. Kaya parang nung dumating ‘yung game nawala kami sa focus kasi sobrang excited,” said Amores after their 84-60 loss to Perpetual.
“Mga natutunan ko dun na kailangan ko pa maging ma-pasensya sa lahat ng bagay na kailangan di ko pala dapat ginawa – ‘yung mindset ba sa utak ko na kailangan mas matured na ako.”
Amores will look to bring all the lessons he learned from the off-season this NCAA season.
