Can John Amores still play in pro leagues? GAB explains

The professional license of basketball player John Amores was recently revoked by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

The Board, in a decision promulgated last December 4, said Amores was "found guilty of conduct unbecoming of a professional basketball player" after his involvement in a shooting incident in Laguna last September.

Amores, together with his brother, were charged with attempted homicide, but the two were released after posting bail. According to the GAB document, the criminal case remained pending as of that time.

Amores' pro license was valid until December 13, 2024, and with the decision, he "is no longer al[l]owed to participate in any professional basketball games sanctioned by the Board."

How GAB reached decision

According to GAB chair Atty. Francisco J. Rivera, the sports regulatory body had its own fact-finding process and also asked Amores to explain his side on the accusations after the PBA imposed a one-conference suspension on the NorthPort player.

"When we got the records of the case, we found that the case is more serious than what we initially thought. Since this involves a serious matter which would affect the career of a licensee of the board, what we did was forward to Mr. Amores the records from the police station, and we asked him to comment on the records," Rivera told GMA Integrated News.

Rivera said Amores gave his side, citing self-defense as the reason for pulling out a gun against an individual.

"On the basis of these actions, we determined that he put other people's lives at risk. Considering his past conduct, which also involved him performing acts of violence, we rendered the decision," Rivera said.

In GAB's six-page decision, it was noted that the shooting incident was not the first time Amores' conduct was called out, citing a previous punching incident in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League in July 2022 and in the National Collegiate Athletic Association just months after.

According to Rivera, despite these involvements, Amores was given another chance in his career as he eventually played in leagues such as MPBL and the PBA.

"Ordinarily, and since this is a serious matter, we would give an individual the benefit of the doubt. But then, when he applied with us, initially, we thought that he must be given a chance despite his previous record. When he applied with us, it was coupled with his undertaking that he would refrain from performing or doing acts of violence," Rivera said.

"When he did or he got involved again in the shooting incident, we thought that a more serious penalty would be imposed on him. And that would involve the revocation of his license."

PBA to comply with GAB

For the PBA's part, league commissioner Willie Marcial said they will abide by GAB's ruling. Marcial shared, though, that he understands Amores plans to appeal the said decision.

"Balak niyang um-appeal... Ang PBA, we will comply [with the decision] kasi gobyerno 'yun and under supervision tayo ng GAB. 'Yun ang gagawin natin. Hindi ko alam kailan siya a-appeal, pero mag-appeal daw siya," Marcial said.

[He plans to appeal. The PBA, we will comply because that’s the government and we’re under the supervision of GAB. That’s what we’ll do. I don’t know when he will appeal, but he said he will appeal.]

In terms of his PBA contract, Marcial clarified that Amores is not expected to receive salary since he will not be playing.

GAB, meanwhile, spoke about the possibility of overturning the decision should Amores go through with an appeal.

"Our decision is appealable to the Office of the President," Rivera said. "If reversed, he will have a chance, that is if our decision is reversed."

"If Amores, for example, would be acquitted in the criminal case and then he would apply with us for a license, we would definitely consider his application because it would mean that the factual basis for our decision would no longer be true. He would be given a fresh chance to play professional basketball," he added.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News