Former JRU basketball athlete John Amores apologized publicly for Jimboy Pasturan, Taine Davis, and their families on behalf of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
This happened a few months after Amores punched Pasturan and Davis on the court during the NCAA Season 98 basketball tournament on November 8, 2022.
“Maliban sa personal na paglapit at paghingi nito sa inyo, nais ko muling humingi ng lubos na paumanhin at pag-unawa para sa aking mga nagawa, sa inyong mga nasaktan ko at sa inyong pamilya, sa pamamaraang ito na maaaring makita ng lahat upang sana ay maging tanda ng aking buong pagpapakumbaba at sinserong pagtanggap sa aking mga kamalian,” Amores wrote in his post.
Amores personally attended the Blazers’ practice on November 20 to have a discussion with the group.
“Matapos ang mga pangyayari sa larong iyon noong nakaraang taon, nais kong malaman ninyo na naging napakalaking aral nito para sa akin. Ano pa man ang pagod, pressure, o problema, walang dahilan upang manakit ng kapwa players, pumatol sa fans, at tumaliwas sa mga patakaran ng NCAA,” Amores said.
“Napaalala rin sa akin kung bakit ko minahal nang lubusan ang larong ito: hindi para sa kasikatan, kundi para sa pagkilala at paggalang sa kalakasan ng mga kasamahan kong manlalaro. At sa inyo na bumubuo ng College of St. Benilde, De La Salle Community ako rin ay nag susumamo,” he added.
Following the tense Benilde-JRU game on November 8 where the former Heavy Bomber attacked Benilde teammates, the two players filed a physical injury complaint against Amores.
Amores eventually received an indefinite suspension from the NCAA, and JRU followed suit by ejecting him from the team.
Amores’ in-person apology is appreciated, but Pasturan and Davis insisted that he should still suffer the penalties.
The Zamboanga Valientes signed Amores a month after the event.
