THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) laid the groundwork for a fact-finding committee on the case of basketball hothead John Anthony Amores by convening a meeting among representatives from relevant organizations Friday.
PSC officials met with representatives from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the league’s competition venue Filoil EcoOil Centre at the sports agency’s offices at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila
The committee sought date from the representatives on what transpired during the event, what has been done and what measures to undertake to prevent violence in sports events.
Amores went on a punching spree during the Heavy Bombers’ losing game against the College of Saint Benilde Blazers last November 8 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
“We are looking towards preventing and at the very least, minimizing incidents such as this in the future,” the PSC said in a statement. “We hope that we can be able to determine stronger measures so that we can move forward.”
“It really creates an atmosphere of sportsmanship, teamwork and excellence as mandated by the Philippine Constitution,” the statement added.
The Senate prompted the PSC to form the fact-finding committee during a Senate Committee on Finance budget hearing two weeks ago.
“The PSC as principal agency which supervises amateur sports is very concerned not only on the reputation of the sport of basketball, the organization of the NCAA, but we are also very concerned about the example being given to the youth, it is one of the major reasons why we have undertaken this fact-finding process,” the statement said.
The PSC added: “Rest assured that the PSC, in its capacity and authority granted by law, will continue to be a partner of NCAA and sports organizations. We do not have any intention of interfering with [your] own organization’s rules, operations, and decisions. It is only our intent to ensure that we are able to create an atmosphere where sports is fit to be used by all of those who participate in it as a framework of sportsmanship, teamwork, and excellence.
The committee included sports psychologist Dr. Karen Trinidad of the PSC’s Medical and Scientific Athlete Services department and offered counselling to Amores, who was suspended by the NCAA for the remainder of the season and eventually dropped by JRU from its roster.
The meeting lasted two hours behind closed doors.