SBP 'strongly condemns' John Amores' rampage

The SBP will not tolerate on-court violence like what John Amores did two nights ago. NCAA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is not taking the John Amores-instigated brawl late into the College of St. Benilde-Jose Rizal University game on Tuesday night lightly.

In a statement on Thursday, SBP president Al Panlilio reiterated that the organization will never tolerate such violence.

"The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas strongly condemns acts of on-court violence in basketball, whether it is directed towards a player, an official, or a fan," Panlilio, himself a former varsity player for Ateneo, said in the statement.

Amores, still upset after incurring a technical foul for second motion against CJ Flores, charged at the referees, later tried to punch a Blazer fan, who was revealed to be Mark Songco's brother, and eventually hit four CSB players, namely Songco, Jimboy Pasturan, Taine Davis, and Migs Oczon.

His actions prompted the NCAA to hand an indefinite ban on Amores, although management committee member Vic Calvo said that JRU can appeal the verdict.

According to Panlilio, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios talked to Dax Castellano and Paul Supan, the Blazers and the Heavy Bombers' respective representatives to the NCAA ManCom, to discuss the possible changes to be implemented so that the Amores incident will not happen again.

Castellano and Supan also hold positions in the SBP with Castellano being a member of the board of trustees and Supan being a regional director.

"With the NCAA being a member of the SBP, we asked SBP executive director Sonny Barrios to reach out to NCAA trustee to the SBP board Dax Castellano and SBP regional director Paul Supan to share the SBP's serious concern over the unwanted incident in the National Collegiate Athletic Association game on November 8, 2022 between College of St. Benilde and Jose Rizal University where a fight uncontrollably broke out among players from both benches necessitating the halting and cancellation of the game altogether with CSB ahead, 71-51. They discussed the shared view of condemning on-court violence, adoption of preventive measures to avoid a repetition of the deplorable incident, including a review of security protocols, and meting out the necessary sanctions in a fair manner," Panlilio bared how the conversation went.

He then said that the SBP will support the NCAA's next moves to assure peace and order during games.

"We in the SBP is one with the NCAA in its direction to proactively take the appropriate steps to move the league forward in a professional manner and positively address the issues at hand for the benefit of the NCAA and the sport of basketball," Panlilio concluded.

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