Amores’ Basketball Career In Limbo As GAB Repeals His Pro License

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

What a wasted chance for such a young talent.

John Amores, a former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player, was given the ultimate penalty after the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) revoked his professional playing license confirmed on December 22, 2024.

The formal decision was announced by GAB chairman Francisco Rivera and commissioners Manuel Plaza III and Angel Bautista.

According to the six-page decision under GAB case No. 109-4, Amores is guilty of “conduct unbecoming of a professional basketball player.”

With that being said, the former NorthPort Batang Pier swingman can no longer return to the PBA and is banned from playing any professional hoops league in the country and overseas.

Before releasing their final decision regarding the case, Amores was ordered by the PBA and commissioner Willie Marcial to undergo counseling.

Amores and his camp worked hand-in-hand with the PBA and his mother franchise, NorthPort, but despite the accomplished requirements, GAB still slapped the young hooper with a high-degree penalty.

Last October 1, 2024, Amores aired his side to the PBA and submitted his defense letter which the committee requested. In the statement formulated by the embattled hooper, the league chief said that it contains valid reasons on why he had to go to that extent in a pick-up game.

“So nagusap kami. Sorry di ko masabi sa inyo kasi nasa korte na usapan. Pero sinabi ko lang na ayusin nya. Nagso-sorry sya. Pero sumagot na rin. Binigay namin Tuesday, Friday yata nagkasalubong kami sa office. Binigay nya sagot,” said Marcial.

In retrospect, Amores voluntarily surrendered to authorities after an attempted murder in Barangay Maytalang Uno. He fired a gun at Lee Cacalda, the person whom he argued with in a pick-up game.

He was with his brother, who was driving the motorcycle, when they chased Cacalda at the intersection of Maytalang Uno.

ABS-CBN News reported that it was their sibling who facilitated and coordinated with the Lumban police authorities as death threats started to pile up.