Late notes on Amores

It ‘s like a scene straight from a Akira Korusawa film – a Japanese samurai charging into the enemy camp – full of steam and fury.

And taking on the entire contingent after zigzagging past the line of defenders, reaching his target and unleashing violence and mayhem as what John Amores did.

The Jose Rizal stalwart would throw caution in the wind and elude league officials who tried to stop him and jump into a cluster of St. Benilde players in front of their bench and fired away like a man possessed.

He felled two Blazers in a single attack with roundhouse blows before more personnel would succeed to separate him from the stunned rivals.

The video of the rampage has gone viral and Amores found himself hit with a volley of punitive measures, chastised by two senators, condemned by the league and expelled by JRU.

It was extremely galling as the sight of Robert Jaworski and Big Boy Reynoso, then playing for Meralco, assaulting the two referees working the game in a MICAA match versus Crispa in 1971. The cagers were banned for life but were reprieved two years later and the Big J went on to have an illustrious career.

Amores hopes a career in basketball would hold – the key out of the severe poverty his family has endured through the years. But now a closure looms hard on the horizon. Is it over for Amores? The uninitiated among the fans would say it’s over for the guy. But the more deeply immersed in the nuances and quirks in Philippine basketball believe Amores only needs space and a little breathing room and he will get another chance.

He could be the man struggling teams need to get on track or gain a championship.

For Amores could fit the bill of what every coach dream about – a fearless, dirty and intimidating player whose presence would change the complexion of the game. They are ‘’the trash talkers” and bangers who harassed the other team’s top offensive player.

They are the enforcers willing to sacrifice their body to get an offensive foul and a turnover.

All one has to do is watch how Calvin Abueva or Beau Belga punish their rivals, inflict pain at the risk of being thrown out of the game.

If the violent episode of Amores doing a hara-kiri against the Blazers betrays his state of his mind, it also shows his true traits, the bravery and the anger within him then he should not stop playing.

He should seek help, and temper his rage and fury. He could be the “missing link” to a future champ.