Everyone deserves a second chance. Even 23-year-old John Amores.
That was what Fr. Vic Calvo, OP and the NCAA’s Management Committee wanted to say as to why the league did not impose a lifetime banishment on Amores, instead meting him an indefinite suspension.
“Depende po sa interventions na gagawin ng JRU sa bata. Pero kaya indefinite ban, closest in a nice way of saying para kahit papaano we are just open. We are just giving him a little opening for him to maybe save his career,” said Fr. Calvo, a part of the three-man investigation committee that handled Amores’ case.
Last Tuesday, Amores figured in a blind rage after getting into a spat with Dennis Escaro and getting heckled by a fan who was later on identified as Mark Sangco’s brother.
In his rampage, he hit four Blazers players, including knocking down Taine Davis and Jimboy Pasturan.
So the punishment was just apt, to say the least. But if Amores and his camp think otherwise, Calvo said that they can make an appeal.
“We’re not saying na this is it, but we still open the door for a new process, na he has the right to appeal. Hehas all the right and the privileges because he is in a democratic association – we respect that right,” Calvo continued.
“Justice but merciful, so, pwede namin isulat na lifetime ban. But we [are] just opening up a small window for the child to return, possibly. Because he has more in the future that he can do and also we can extend our help para matulungan ‘yung bata.”
Calvo also hopes that JRU does its part in helping Amores get back to his feet.
“We are trying to send the message to JRU, and of course, they will do that as an institution naman. As an institution they will think of interventions like for anger management, mental psychological help, spiritual or whatever to help the child. So the person – rather, the player can be helped.”
