GAB: John Amores unlikely to play in pro hoops after shooting incident

The Games and Amusement Board (GAB) might no longer allow Northport player John Amores to play in professional basketball leagues such as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after his recent involvement in a shooting incident in Laguna.

GAB Chairperson Francisco Rivera made the statement at the Senate finance subcommittee's hearing on the agency's proposed P157.869 million budget for 2025.

Rivera explained to the committee that the GAB had granted Amores a permit to play in professional leagues despite his history of physical altercations against his opponents during games in the National Collegiate Athletics Association of the Philippines (NCAA) under the condition that he will undergo anger management therapy.

"On the basis of his past conduct, it appeared to the Games and Amusement Board that [it] was still manageable and again, in the interest of giving him the opportunity to play for the professional leagues and on the strength of his undertaking, we gave him a license," Rivera said.

"At present, considering the gravity of the offense that he committed at this time, the same argument probably won't no longer work for him," he added.

According to Rivera, Amores has an "undertaking" or a formal pledge that he "would behave well if he is already accredited with GAB."

Asked if he believes Amores has an anger management problem, Rivera answered in the affirmative.

However, Rivera admitted that they "were not able to do a follow up" to check whether Amores had finished his therapy.

Senator Bong Go, who presided over the hearing, said the GAB should strengthen its rules and policies to prevent a similar incident involving a professional player from happening.

"Kindly strengthen niyo po 'yan, pag-aralan niyo po nang mabuti at hindi po ito maulit. Ako kung kakailanganin imbestigahan natin ito para di na maulit ...pero at your level it is your mandate to check before you issue permits," Go said.

(Kindly strengthen and study your policies so this incident won't happen again. If we need to investigate the matter, we can do that to ensure that we will not have another similar case in the future. At your level, it is your mandate to check before you issue permits.)

"Meron nang nangyari na insidente na ganon. Ibig sabihin nandyan 'yung tendency. So buti na lang hindi tinaman. What if namatay yung binaril? Saka pa tayo magsisisihan na naman, tapos na, may nangyari na... Prevention ang importante dito," he added.

(There was already an incident. That means, the tendency is there. Good thing, the victim was not shot. What if the victim was killed? We might be blaming each other if the victim died. What is important here is prevention.)

Apart from the PBA, Go advised the GAB to also work closely with other professional leagues such as the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Amores and his brother were released from detention after posting bail two weeks ago in connection with the attempted homicide charges against them.—RF, GMA Integrated News