If it were a crime, John Amores committed an act of violence that could have meant for him a life sentence which, in sports, is equivalent to a lifetime ban.
Amores, a member of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, turned heavy puncher when he went berserk in a fit of rage and knocked every opposing player that went his way.
The video posted on social media was such a ghastly sight, an unacceptable act committed in an arena where sportsmanship is the divine word.
What drove Amores to go on a punching spree?
An initial investigation on the matter revealed that a bad call by a referee and the cursing that succeeded caused him to lose his cool.
As he was being held by teammates at the bench, a fan seated at the back of the College of St. Benilde bench kept heckling and cursing at Amores.
That’s when he lost it and tried to charge at the fan but he was a Benilde player who tried to hit him and missed. Blinded by rage, Amores hit back at every Benilde player on sight.
There’s always a story behind every act.
In the arena of legal battle, a crime committed because of a strong, sudden impulse such as anger rather than as a premeditated crime, usually begets lesser punishment. They call it a “crime of passion.”
At that heated moment, Amores lost it. However, it was not the first time he was involved in a fracas on the basketball court.
There’s no justification for Amores’ outburst that triggered that ugly incident.
He was banned indefinitely from the league. He was meted out indefinite suspension by his team. And Amores apologized already for what happened.
But he has to face the three-point shot.
Former collegiate and the pro player Mark Andaya said it best in his public message to Amores:
“I hope you find a good lawyer, a psychiatrist, a new school to enroll (in) to (pay for your tuition), a family to really support you, understand you, tell you what is right and wrong, and guide you better moving forward.
“Let not this incident define you as a whole, just make sure you truly learn from it, and in the near future please bounce back, may it not be in sports but in life in general!
“Forget basketball, for now, you need to find yourself first…pray. Pray really really hard.”
This is a reminder to others that hooliganism has no place in basketball, or any sport in general, where discipline, patience and sportsmanship are always paramount.
As for Amores, go, young man, explore the world and find your place elsewhere, at least for now.
