“JRU saves face over John Amores problem”. Too little, too late

CHICAGO– Jose Rizal University finally made the right choice by cutting ties with John Amoresa controversial player turned serial striker.

The action came 112 days after Amores’ first offense on July 26, when he stopwatch UP’s Mark Gil Belmonte during a preseason game at the FilOil EcoOil Center.

I could understand why JRU didn’t lift a finger about the Belmonte incident.

Amores was previously hit with an indefinite ban by the UCBL and, although a criminal case has since been filed against him by the injured Maroon, Amores is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Amores’ latest offense, however, is another matter.

Why did it take JRU a full week to determine that John Amores no longer deserved the privilege of being a heavyweight bomber and de facto ambassador for the university?

The heinous attack on several St. Benilde College players was Amores’ second offense, which also led to two other criminal complaints against him. He lost all the benefit of the doubt in the flurry of malicious punches he threw.

Mercy might have been a factor in JRU’s delay in the face of the inevitable, but why show compassion to someone who didn’t show the same compassion to his unsuspecting victims?

AND WHERE WAS JRU COACH LOUIE GONZALEZ DURING THE STORM?

Strangely calm.

A father figure to the basketball program, he should have condemned Amores’ actions from the outset. Refusing to do so could easily give the impression that he condoned it.

After the first punching incident, Gonzalez should have known there was a firecracker lit on his bench. His staff should have been more vigilant and put a short leash on the moody Amores.

The coaching staff has failed in its collective role as surrogate parents to student-athletes. And Gonzalez dropped John Amores.

Eager to hear his perspective, I called and texted Coach Gonzalez several times. He chose not to answer.

Although it could have decided the matter much more quickly and decisively, JRU ultimately delivered the most sensible verdict given the intensity of the controversy in all corners of the basketball community.

But at the end. It’s hard to save face when there are too many broken bones.

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The CSB rises above the turmoil. Throughout this dark ordeal, little light was shed on the victims: the CSB and the Blazers.

And this must change because Saint Benilde showed everyone a textbook case on how to handle an adverse situation where violence is raging.

During Amores’ rage, the Blazers did not escalate the fight beyond what they considered acts of self-defense. And even though some of their peers were also suspended, they chose not to cry foul and quietly filed a formal protest.

As the voice grew louder and louder calling for Amores’ scalp, CSB coach Charles Tiu did not join the bloody pile and only offered kindness in hope and hope. praying that Amores would receive “guidance” to move forward.

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While praising his players’ restraint, Tiu acknowledged that rowdiness occurs during matches and that the best way to deal with the noise is to “get on top of it and play.”

Shocked and undermanned in the game following the JRU scrimmage, CSB ultimately clinched a spot in the Final Four, the school’s first appearance in the big ball in the last 20 years.

It’s nice to see the good guys win.

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