Former Jose Rizal University player John Amores wrote a public letter of apology for De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's Jimboy Pasturan and Taine Davis and their families.
This comes months after the November 8, 2022 incident in the NCAA Season 98 basketball tournament, which saw Amores punching Pasturan and Davis on the court.
"Maliban sa personal na paglapit at paghingi nito sa inyo, nais ko muling humingi ng lubos na paumanhin at pag-unawa para sa aking mga nagawa, sa inyong mga nasaktan ko at sa inyong pamilya, sa pamamaraang ito na maaaring makita ng lahat upang sana ay maging tanda ng aking buong pagpapakumbaba at sinserong pagtanggap sa aking mga kamalian," Amores wrote in his post.
("Aside from personally coming to you, I would like again to apologize and ask for forgiveness and understanding for what I did to you who were hurt and your families, through this way everyone will see, so that this may serve as a lesson for me to be humble and sincerely accept my mistakes.")
Back in November 20, Amores personally went to the Blazers' training to talk things out with the team.
"Matapos ang mga pangyayari sa larong iyon noong nakaraang taon, nais kong malaman ninyo na naging napakalaking aral nito para sa akin. Ano pa man ang pagod, pressure, o problema, walang dahilan upang manakit ng kapwa players, pumatol sa fans, at tumaliwas sa mga patakaran ng NCAA," Amores said.
"Napaalala rin sa akin kung bakit ko minahal nang lubusan ang larong ito: hindi para sa kasikatan, kundi para sa pagkilala at paggalang sa kalakasan ng mga kasamahan kong manlalaro. At sa inyo na bumubuo ng College of St. Benilde, De La Salle Community ako rin ay nag susumamo," he added.
("After everything that happened in that game last year, I would want you to know that this has been a big lesson for me. That no matter what level of tiredness, pressure, or problem, there is no reason to hurt players, take on fans, and not follow NCAA rules.")
("This also reminded me of the reason why I loved this sport: not for fame, but to recognize and respect the strength of my fellow players. To the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde community, I am also pleading.")
Pasturan and Davis filed a physical injury complaint against Amores following the incident.
The NCAA eventually handed Amores an indefinite suspension, while JRU also did the same and removed him from the team.
Pasturan and Davis previously said they appreciate Amores' in-person apology, but maintained he should face consequences.
A month after the incident, Amores was signed by the Zamboanga Valientes.
—Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA Integrated News
