Still under contract with the NorthPort Batang Pier, the struggling cager won’t be receiving any salary after the Games and Amusements Board revoked his professional license.
Christmas will be grim for embattled basketball player John Amores after the PBA confirmed he won’t be receiving any salary from his team, the Northport Batang Pier, as he undergoes the appeal process with the Games and Amusements Board.
Per PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, the league received notice of Amores’ license being revoked earlier this week, and will need to adhere to GAB’s decision, meaning he won’t be able to play in the PBA or any other professional league in the country.
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But in his conversation with Marcial, Amores said that he plans to appeal the decision, which the PBA will be watching closely.
“Nakausap ko si Amores, sabi ko nakatanggap na ako [ng email], anong balak mo. Balak niyang um-appeal, kasi talaga namang um-appeal eh. Ang PBA will comply. Kasi gobyerno 'yun at under supervision tayo ng GAB. So, 'yun din ang gagawin natin. Tignan natin, ewan ko kung kelan siya a-appeal, pero a-appeal daw siya,” said Marcial.
According to the information he got, Marcial said that there was still a chance for Amores to return to the PBA, since his license would’ve expired either way.
But the PBA will be hands-off when it comes to the appeal, even his team the Northport Batang Pier.
“So far pala, ang nabasa ko pala, 'di naman pala ban eh. Ni-revoke. So, mag-e-expire din naman talaga 'yung license… Mag-appeal talaga siya, 'di ba,” said Marcial.
“Kailangan talaga appeal ng player 'yun. Kami, ang PBA talagang magcomply, kung ano yung utos ng GAB, ganon dapat. Pwede namin… Ano pwedeng sabihin, pwede kong iset up kay Chairman, kung ano matutulong ko sakanya. Pero yung appeal… Kasi personal yan, hindi naman sa PBA.” he added.
If Marcial remembers right, Amores still has a year left in his contract with his PBA team after being drafted by NorthPort in 2023. But until the time he clears his case and gets his license reinstated — if at all, Amores won’t be on the payroll of the PBA.
“Pagkakaalam ko, tatanong ko rin, wala siyang sweldo. No play no pay tayo eh. Alam ko may isang taon pa 'yun eh. Wala. No play no pay tayo,” said Marcial.
Still, the PBA executive isn’t giving up hope that the embattled player still makes his way back to the PBA. That is, he believes there were others before him who also had their license reinstated.
“Madaming nakabalik din. So sana. Tignan natin, 'di ba? Pero sabi niya inaayos naman niya 'yung kaso niya,” he said.
Amores’ professional license came under fire due to his involved in a shooting incident in Laguna last September where he has been charged with attempted murder.