John Amores continues to move forward from the series of controversies that involved him in the past as he now hopes to make it to the PBA.
The former Jose Rizal University standout, became infamously known for his punching spree in the NCAA in November last year, painting a bad picture to what supposed to be a budding basketball career.
Knowing full well that he might not be able to veer himself away from the bad boy image, the 24-year-old wingman is putting all of his focus in his bid to be drafted in the PBA – a way of sorts to redeem himself from the past mistakes.
“Siguro ‘yung nangyari sa akin, nasa utak na ng tao ‘yun. “Hindi na mawawala sa tao ‘yun lalo na sa mga fans. Nandiyan na ‘yun,” said Amores, who was one of the record 128 hopefuls looking to make the leap to the big league.
“Sa mga nakakaintindi lang, ‘yung mga basketball players, ‘yun pa rin ‘yung nakakaintindi sa akin. Pero sa akin, wala na eh. Alam ko naman sa sarili ko na ‘yung mga nagawa ko, pinagsisihan ko na ‘yun. Kailangan ko rin itama ‘yun. Eto na ‘yun,” he added.
Making the PBA seemed to be the goal as Amores hopes to continue to walk the right path and put the past behind.
He already started redeeming himself having stints in the Asean Basketball League with the Zamboanga Valientes before playing for Muntinlupa in the MPBL.
Should he hear his name called in the draft night set on Sunday, Sept. 17, Amores is eager to prove he was more than just the player who was once a central figure in a series of on-court melee.
“Siguro magfo-focus ako sa depensa. Although nandiyan ‘yung offense, nandoon pa rin ‘yung mas kailangan iimprove, kailangan ko mag-double effort kasi ‘yun ang hindi mo mawo-work ‘yun kasi nasa sarili mo na ‘yung sipag at tiyaga,” he vowed.