IT wasn’t his doppelganger, it was actually John Amores himself.
The controversial shooting guard did see action in an exhibition match held in Duero, Bohol last week while suspended for the entire PBA Commissioner’s Cup after his involvement in a shooting incident last September.
Sources contacted by SPIN.ph disclosed Amores’ participation had the blessings of NorthPort management, which, however, had no official statement on the matter.
TIMELINE of John Amores' troubled career
In photos that went viral on social media, the product of Jose Rizal University was seen sporting a blonde hair and wearing a blue jersey No. 23 that bore the team name.
Amores was suspended by the PBA for one conference without pay following his involvement, along with his brother, in a shooting incident in Lumban, Laguna three months ago that was triggered by what investigators said was an unpaid side bet in a basketball game.
The Amores brothers are facing attempted homicide charges for shooting at a man reportedly involved in the side bet last Sept. 25. The man was unhurt.
The brothers are currently out on bail while their court case is being heard at the Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Lumban, Laguna.
Amores was given the blessing to play in the exhibition game for humanitarian reasons since his allowance for practicing with Northport was reportedly not enough to support his family.
“Pinayagan na rin kasi nga walang income, e malapit na rin ang Pasko,” said a source privy to the matter. “At tsaka ito exhibition lang naman. Hindi naman liga.”
The PBA has been consistent about players suiting up in unsanctioned leagues or the so-called ‘ligang labas’ – in this case an unsanctioned game. As long as it has the go signal of the mother team, the league has no problem about it.
Amores was actually hesitant to go and join the Bohol outing, but couldn’t say no to one of the officials who organized the game since the man has been among those helping him in his court case.
As to the current status of his court battle, that’s another story.
Club vs country row for PMNT
THE Philippines’ participation in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup in recent years has been marred by the unavailability of players because the tournament does not appear on the FIFA international window.
This year is no different. What is different, though, is that other players based in Southeast Asia have also been affected after their teams refused to release them because they are participating in home tournaments.
Among these are players deemed vital in the PMNT's campaign such as goalkeeper Kevin Mendoza, who plays for Persib Bandung in Indonesia, and midfielder Patrick Strauss, who is is with Muangthong United in Thailand. Their domestic leagues didn't stop play during the Mitsubishi Electric Cup, a biennial home-and-away tournament considered as the primary football competition in the region.
Also affected are Thailand and Indonesia who have players unavailable for the Asean tournament. Indonesia was so short on players, it sent its U-22 team to the competition.
“It’s a pity because we don’t have access to a lot of our ASEAN players which is really ridiculous,” said Philippine Football Federation director for national teams Freddy Gonzalez after the squad’s first game against Myanmar last week.
Gonzalez said the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) must step in to address the situation.
“It’s like, this ASEAN Championship, why are they scheduling games in December during the championship?” Gonzalez asked. “The AFF has to do more to make sure that the best ASEAN players are here.” - Reuben Terrado
Pat Aquino on the way out as Gilas Women coach?
GILAS Pilipinas Women coach Pat Aquino was one happy man seeing National University reclaim the UAAP women's basketball championship.
Though he's three seasons removed from overseeing the Lady Bulldogs' dynastic reign - the juggernaut he built won six straight crowns with an impressive 96-0 record - the smile could not be wiped off the mentor's face as he was really proud of the team's recent accomplishment.
"Syempre masaya tayo first for the girls, second sa coaches, and syempre sa management. It's a proof that the program we started is still the gold standard in the UAAP," he said.
Aquino also laughed off chatter regarding his position at the helm of the women's national team.
SPIN.ph sources caught wind of rumors that Aquino will be replaced as Gilas Women coach.
It's a baffling, if not unfair, innuendo considering the strides that the Gilas Women have made under his guidance, with the seniors, as well as the youth team, now both competing in Division A of Fiba Asia.
The team also just competed in the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments in Kigali, Rwanda, the first time that the country reached that level.
The rumor had reportedly so affected Jack Animam that she allegedly said that she won't play for Gilas Women if Aquino is replaced.
The coach, however, is unperturbed despite all the chatter around his tenure. He said he believes he still enjoys the confidence of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) brass considering what the program has accomplished through the years.
"The results speak for themselves," he said. "We serve at the pleasure of the federation and we'd like to think that we've done our part in being at the forefront of the growth of women's basketball in the country. We've done a lot but we know that there's still a lot we could do for the program and the country."
Lucky Leo
Some people are indeed lucky.
Take the case of Leo Austria, the once embattled San Miguel coach who departed almost with his tail between his legs when he was ousted as San Miguel coach when the team underwent an unheaval two years ago.
The mentor bit his pride, accepted a post as consultant, and sat on the bench while Jorge Gallent rode triumphant by winning a 2023 PBA Commissioner's Cup championship on his first try as head coach.
Then San Miguel failed to win titles in two successive conferences and afterward suffered two embarrassing losses in the current Commissioner's Cup and, lo and behold, Austria was back as head coach and Gallent demoted to consultant.
We guess Gallent could still be head coach had he gotten the chance to coach two more games before he was fired.
This is because San Miguel's next two assignments were against Terrafirma and Blackwater, two of the PBA's weakest teams. Those were the teams Austria faced when he assumed the post. It can be surmised that San Miguel could have beaten the two teams even if a ball boy was coaching the Beermen.
But Gallent did not have that chance, which could have changed the minds of the SMB bosses.
But, as they say, that's how the ball bounces.
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