PBA Releases Statement on Incident Involving John Amores
PBA – The Philippine Basketball Association is addressing a shooting incident involving NorthPort guard John Amores, which occurred on Wednesday evening in Barangay Maytalang Uno, Lumban, Laguna.
The altercation reportedly began during a basketball game when 32-year-old seaman Lee Cacalda Y. Lumangaya confronted Amores and challenged him to a fight. The situation escalated when both men dismounted their motorcycles, leading to Amores allegedly firing shots at Lumangaya with an unidentified firearm. Fortunately, Lumangaya did not sustain any injuries.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial expressed sadness over the incident, stating that the matter is under police investigation and that the league cannot provide further comments at this time. Following the event, Amores and his 20-year-old brother voluntarily surrendered to the Lumban police at 1:00 AM on Thursday. Authorities are currently processing their statements as part of the ongoing investigation.
“This is a matter subject to investigation by the police, and we cannot comment on it. But we are saddened by such an unfortunate incident,” said PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
This recent controversy involving John Amores comes two years after his infamous outburst during an NCAA basketball game. In that 2022 incident, Amores was involved in a physical altercation during a match between Jose Rizal University and the College of St. Benilde, which led to his suspension from the collegiate league. Despite this setback, Amores was drafted by NorthPort in the fifth round of the 2023 PBA Rookie Draft, giving him a second chance in professional basketball.
During his rookie season in the PBA, Amores displayed good behavior, including a commendable performance in Batang Pier’s final game of the Governors’ Cup against TNT Tropang Giga at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, just days before the recent shooting incident. However, this new controversy could seriously jeopardize his PBA career, as the league and fans closely monitor the ongoing investigation.