John Amores

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = John Amores

| image =

| caption =

| position =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| height_footnote = {{cite news |last1=Cueto |first1=Francis Earl |title=Cager John Amores surrenders to police |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/09/27/news/national/cager-john-amores-surrenders-to-police/1974286 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=The Manila Times |date=27 September 2024 |language=en}}

| weight_lb =

| league =

| team = Free agent

| number =

| birth_date = {{bda|1999|6|13}}

| birth_place =

| nationality = Filipino

| high_school = JRU (Mandaluyong)

| college = JRU

| draft_year_pba = 2023

| draft_round_pba = 5

| draft_pick_pba = 51

| draft_team_pba = NorthPort Batang Pier

| career_start = 2023

| years1 = 2023

| team1 = Zamboanga Valientes

| years2 = 2023

| team2 = Muntinlupa Cagers

| years3 = 2023–2024

| team3 = NorthPort Batang Pier

| highlights =

}}

John Anthony Walker Amores{{cite news |title=JRU apologizes, to conduct separate inquiry on John Amores incident|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/ncaa/sports/basketball/850873/jru-apologizes-to-conduct-separate-inquiry-on-john-amores-incident/story/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=GMA News |date=9 November 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=John Anthony Amores - Players |url=https://www.pba.ph/players/john-anthony-amores |publisher=Philippine Basketball Association |access-date=21 October 2024}} (born {{birth based on age as of date|23|2022|11|21|noage=1}}{{cite news |last1=Isaga |first1=JR |title=Amores apologizes for CSB assault, cites family problems for outburst |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/ncaa/john-amores-apologizes-csb-assault-cites-family-problems-outburst/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Rappler |date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121111821/https://www.rappler.com/sports/ncaa/john-amores-apologizes-csb-assault-cites-family-problems-outburst/ |archive-date=21 November 2022}}) is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Amores played for the JRU Heavy Bombers in college before joining the professional ranks with the Zamboanga Valientes in 2022 in spite of his involvement in the collegiate stint-ending brawl with JRU. In 2023, he joined the Muntinlupa Cagers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and was later selected by the NorthPort with the 51st pick of the PBA season 48 draft later that year.

Early life and education

Amores played for the José Rizal University (JRU)'s high school basketball team, the JRU Light Bombers, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In NCAA Season 94 (2018), Amores was named most improved player after the Light Bombers qualified to the Final Four, where they lost to the La Salle Green Hills Greenies.{{Cite web |title=TIMELINE of John Amores' once-promising, now-troubled career |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/timeline-of-john-amores-once-promising-now-troubled-career-a1374-20240926-lfrm |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}

College career

After graduating high school, he then became a part of JRU's college basketball team, the JRU Heavy Bombers.{{cite news |last1=Ramos |first1=Gerry |title=John Amores career gets reboot as Valientes face Indons in ABL debut |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/abl/john-amores-career-gets-reboot-as-valientes-face-indons-in-abl-debut-a793-20221231 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=31 December 2022 |language=en}}

On July 26, 2022, during a Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) preseason game against the UP Fighting Maroons, Amores figured in altercation with the UP's players. UP's Mark Belmonte filed a "serious physical injury" case against Amores in September 2022.{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=John Amores has case filed by Mark Belmonte for 'serious physical injuries' |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/john-amores-has-pending-case-filed-by-mark-belmonte/254741 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=8 November 2022}}

Despite a complaint by Belmonte, he was still able to play for JRU in NCAA Season 98 (2022), but his season and college career was cut short following another incident on November 8, 2022 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, where he was involved in assaulted players from the opposing Benilde Blazers. The NCAA suspended Amores indefinitely as a result.{{Cite web |title=JRU's John Amores handed indefinite suspension by NCAA |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/ncaa/sports/basketball/850845/jru-s-john-amores-handed-indefinite-suspension-by-ncaa/story/ |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=www.gmanetwork.com |language=en}} JRU handed Amores with another indefinite suspension. Nine others were suspended for one game, and two for two games.{{cite news |last1=Fuertes |first1=Rommel Jr. |title=NCAA: John Amores out for the season, not allowed to join practices–JRU |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/484954/ncaa-john-amores-out-for-the-season-not-allowed-to-join-practices-jru |access-date=21 October 2024 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=9 November 2022 |language=en}}

On November 16, 2022, JRU announced it has upgraded its sanction on Amores from suspension to removal from its entire sports program.{{cite news |last1=Saldajeno |first1=Ivan Stewart |title=John Amores removed from Heavy Bombers team |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1188730 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=16 November 2022}}

Professional career

= Zamboanga Valientes (2023) =

Amores would continue playing competitive basketball after college although his involvement in the NCAA brawl would be a dent to his career.{{cite news |title=An apology and an opportunity: John Amores' shot at redemption |url=https://www.espn.ph/basketball/story/_/id/35762596/an-apology-opportunity-john-amores-shot-redemption |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=ESPN.com |date=1 March 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Bacnis |first1=Justine |title=John Amores determined to make the most of his fresh start |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/john-amores-determined-to-make-the-most-of-his-fresh-start/281732 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=18 September 2023}}{{cite news |title=John Amores welcomes opportunity to redeem himself in PBA |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/18/23/amores-welcomes-opportunity-to-redeem-himself-in-pba |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |agency=ANCX |date=18 September 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Isaga |first1=JR |title=More than a brawler? John Amores raring to get new reputation with NorthPort |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/pba/john-amores-raring-new-reputation-northport-batang-pier/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Rappler |date=18 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920080504/https://www.rappler.com/sports/pba/john-amores-raring-new-reputation-northport-batang-pier/ |archive-date=20 September 2023}}

He was able to play professional leagues in the Philippines which are sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) after he have apologized for the incident. This is under the condition that he would undergo anger management therapy.{{cite news |last1=Bordey |first1=Hana |title=GAB: John Amores unlikely to play in pro hoops after shooting incident |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/basketball/922857/gab-john-amores-unlikely-to-play-in-pro-hoops-after-shooting-incident/story/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=GMA News |date=7 October 2024 |language=en}}

Amores made his professional debut for the Zamboanga Valientes of the ASEAN Basketball League for the 2023 Invitational.{{cite news |last1=Leongson |first1=Randolph |title=John Amores signs with Zamboanga Valientes ahead of ABL Invitational |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/john-amores-signs-with-zamboanga-valientes-ahead-of-abl-a2437-20221208 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=8 December 2022 |language=en}} He also helped his team win the 2023 Open Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Stewart |title=MPBL: Muntinlupa Cagers add John Amores |url=https://www.dugout.ph/2023/03/mpbl-muntinlupa-cagers-add-john-amores.html |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Dugout Philippines |date=2 March 2023}}

= Muntinlupa Cagers (2023) =

The Muntinlupa Cagers signed in Amores for the 2023 season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.{{cite news |title=MPBL: John Amores shines as Munti shocks Makati |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/mpbl-john-amores-delivers-as-munti-shocks-makati/278793 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=18 August 2023}}

= NorthPort Batang Pier (2023–present) =

Amores took part in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 48 draft and was selected by the NorthPort Batang Pier as the 51st overall pick on September 17 ,2023. NorthPort and Amores agreed on a one-year contract,{{cite news |last1=Ramos |first1=Gerry |title=A year after abrupt end to collegiate career, John Amores officially in the PBA |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/northport-signing-john-amores-to-one-year-contract-a793-20231031 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=31 October 2023 |language=en}} which was later extended to two years.{{cite news |title=Injured JM Calma, John Amores renewed by NorthPort |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/injured-jm-calma-amores-get-contract-renewal-from-northport-a793-20240609 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=9 June 2024 |language=en}}

For his involvement in a off-the-court shooting incident in Laguna the PBA suspended him from taking part at the 2024–25 Commissioner's Cup{{cite news |last1=Villanueva |first1=Ralph Edwin |title=Amores suspended without pay for next PBA conference amid shooting incident |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2024/10/11/2391806/amores-suspended-without-pay-next-pba-conference-amid-shooting-incident |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=11 October 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Dioquino |first1=Delfin |title=Slap on the wrist? PBA says it is punishing but not neglecting Amores |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/pba/league-says-punishing-not-neglecting-john-amores/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Rappler |date=12 October 2024}} Separately, GAB has considered revoking Amores' professional license after the incident.{{cite news |last1=Ramos |first1=Gerry |title=Amores faces contract termination, revocation of GAB licenseAmores faces contract termination, revocation of GAB license |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/john-amores-faces-contract-termination-revocation-of-gab-license-a793-20241011 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=11 October 2024 |language=en}}

Personal life

Amores is a resident of Pagsanjan, Laguna.{{cite news |last1=Estacio |first1=Danny |title=PBA cager John Amores, brother free after posting bail |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/27/pba-cager-john-amores-brother-free-after-posting-bail |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=27 September 2024 |language=en}} John is the third of four children. His father worked as a tricycle and truck driver but later sold viands and vegetables with his mother for a living.{{cite news |last1=Henson |first1=Joaquin |title=Amores visits Benilde to apologize |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/11/21/2225269/amores-visits-benilde-apologize- |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=21 November 2021}} He is married to Cylina Dicee with whom he has a daughter.{{cite news |title=Fake Facebook post accuses John Amores of acid attack on wife, prompts manhunt rumors |url=https://fastbreak.com.ph/fake-facebook-post-accuses-john-amores-of-acid-attack-on-wife-prompts-manhunt-rumors/hoop-snoop/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=FastBreak.com.ph |date=21 May 2023}} Family issues at the time was cited among the factors which led to his outburst in the November 2022 JRU brawl.{{cite news |last1=Fuertes |first1=Rommel Jr. |title=NCAA: John Amores cites 'family problems' for outburst |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/486888/ncaa-john-amores-cites-family-problems-for-outburst |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=INQUIRER.net |date=22 November 2022 |language=en}}

On September 25, 2024, Amores in the neighboring town of Lumban challenged a man in a fistfight and later alleged fired a gun on him over a disagreement over officiating in a prior basketball game.{{cite news |last1=Dioquino |first1=Delfin |title=PBA player John Amores allegedly involved in shooting incident |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/pba/john-amores-allegedly-involved-shooting-incident-september-2024/ |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=Rappler |date=25 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925151131/https://www.rappler.com/sports/pba/john-amores-allegedly-involved-shooting-incident-september-2024/ |archive-date=25 September 2024}}{{cite news |title=John Amores, brother freed on bail |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/25/pba-player-john-amores-brother-surrender-face-attempted-murder-raps-over-shooting-incident-614 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=27 September 2024}} He alongside his brother surrendered to the police but posted bail for attempted homicide charges.{{cite news |last1=Cruzat |first1=Jessie |title=PBA player John Amores, brother surrender, face attempted murder raps over shooting incident |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/25/pba-player-john-amores-brother-surrender-face-attempted-murder-raps-over-shooting-incident-614 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=26 September 2024}}{{cite news |title=John Amores, brother freed on bail |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/25/pba-player-john-amores-brother-surrender-face-attempted-murder-raps-over-shooting-incident-614 |access-date=21 October 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=27 September 2024}} The incident led to Amores' suspension from NorthPort in the PBA.