MANILA, Philippines – After the player was seen on CCTV shooting a gun at another guy following a basketball game in Lumban, PBA player John Amores and his brother turned themselves in to the authorities early on Thursday.

In earlier CCTV footage, Amores was seen getting off a motorcycle in Barangay Maytalang Uno at around five o’clock in the evening, driven by his 20-year-old brother. Wednesday prior to actually shooting the individual. 

But during the incident, the victim remained uninjured, and no bystander suffered any injuries.  

Prior to the incident, Amores had attended a basketball game in Barangay Salac when he and the victim got into a heated fight over a disputed call, according to Police Major Bob Louis Ordiz, Chief of Police of the Lumban MPS.

Police reported that a prize of P4,000 was at stake for the winning team in the match. An emergency had occurred in Barangay Salac, followed by a dispute over an unagreed-upon call during the game. The disagreement escalated, eventually leading to a confrontation in Barangay Maytalang I, where tensions boiled over.

The altercation intensified, culminating in another physical clash. During this fight, John Amores allegedly brandished a firearm and shot the victim. Authorities are investigating the sequence of events that led to the violent incident.

Following the incident, police initiated a vigorous chase operation. 

After a second sibling of Amores, who is the barangay chairman in Pagsanjan, got in touch with the Lumban police, the two brothers turned themselves in at one in the morning. 

Ordiz claimed that following the incident, threats had been made against both brothers.

Two people willingly turned themselves in to the station, according to an official, claiming that they were afraid for their lives and needed police protection. Both of them expressed worries about their personal safety and believed that the best way to protect themselves from any violence was to turn themselves in. The type and origin of the threats that prompted the surrender are presently being looked into by the police. 

They are scheduled to go through an inquest about charges of attempted murder.

As for the victim, he has informed police that he is unwilling to undergo interviews.

However, Shirley Cacalda, his distraught mother, vowed to press charges against the Amores siblings.

At the Lumban police station, Cacalda voiced her extreme concern, explaining that her son had only been home for five or six days after returning from the ship. She claimed that someone was threatening to hurt her son in exchange for P4,000, and she was afraid that things would get out of hand. She made it clear that she would not permit him to suffer such harm.

Cacalda emphasized her resolve to achieve justice by vowing to continue the case. She called the occurrence a haughty gesture and promised to set aside time to make sure the right legal measures were done. Her words showed that she was adamant about standing up for her son and taking the proper legal action.

The following statement regarding the event has also been released by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.

“We are saddened by such an unfortunate incident, but we cannot comment on this as it is the subject of a police investigation.”

Previous Ban on the NCAA

Timeline:

The NCAA had already suspended Amores, a former player for Jose Rizal University (JRU), for punching four De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (CSB) players during a game in 2022.

NCAA suspends John Amores of JRU for his punching rampage

Amores assaulted multiple players, including Jimboy Pasturan and Mark Sangco, and charged the St. Benilde bench. The Blazers won 71-51 when the game was eventually stopped by officials.

NCAA: Fighting on Mars between JRU and Benilde

NCAA: Amores has been formally dismissed from the JRU basketball team

Later, Pasturan and Taine Mitchell Davis complained to the San Juan City Prosecutor’s Office about Amores.

In spite of this, Amores was selected by NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA Rookie Draft’s fifth round in 2023.

John Amores is happy about the chance to prove himself in the PBA.