In an effort to curb the repetition of last Tuesday’s violent outburst starring Jose Rizal University player John Amores, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has called on the coaches to play an active role in maintaining order in their respective benches.
Fr. Victor Calvo of Letran College said additional security measures will be discussed in the next management committee meeting as the league admitted there were serious lapses in security and crowd control that led to Amores going on a rampage.
With the game already in the bag for College Saint Benilde, Amores snapped and ran towards the Blazers bench and hit just about anybody who blocked his path.
The league ruled on Wednesday that Amores, 22, has been slapped with an indefinite suspension but didn’t shut the door on a possible reinstatement in the event he gets reformed.
Apart from Amores, 11 players won’t see action today in the Heavy Bombers’ game against San Sebastian owing to the suspensions meted out by the NCAA.
Heavy Bombers Jason Tan, Joshua Guiab, Jason Celis, Marwin Dionisio, Jonathan Medina, Mark Abaoag, Karl de Jesus and CJ Gonzales will be suspended for one game while William Sy and Jay Arenal won’t be seeing action in three and two matches, respectively.
The Blazers weren’t off the hook in the scuffle either as Ladis Lepalam was slapped with a one-game suspension while Mark Sangco and CJ Flores were each given a two-game suspension.
“There were security lapses and on the part of the referees and coaches with the players, we have to communicate to them the essence of the game for them to realize the values,” Calvo, an NCAA manncomm member, said during a press conference.
“And to take care of our fans. We love our fans. We like them to be here face-to-face, but we have to take care of them to not be involved in such situations,” he added.
This is not the first time the NCAA had to deal with a similar incident.
In 2014, players from Mapua University and Emilio Aguinaldo College were involved in a bench-clearing brawl that led to the majority of players from each squad suspended.
Mancomm member Hercules Callanta of Lyceum of the Philippines University said coaches will now be briefed by NCAA commissioner Tonichi Pujante and the referees before the game to ensure both squads will be reminded of the value of sportsmanship inside the court.
“The Commissioner will meet with the coaches before their games to reiterate the need for the coaches to be more active in controlling the players as well as setting the specific environment and climate for sportsmanship that the NCAA wants to promote as well,” Callanta said.
To ensure that the case regarding Amores will be just, Peter Cayco of Arellano University said they have also checked the security cameras on the premises and saw at least two spectators who got involved as well in the fracas that went viral on social media.
Reports said it was Sangco’s brother who showed a middle finger to Amores, Calvo confirmed.
“The Commissioner already has initial findings. He will just have to submit it to the mancomm for approval,” Cayco said.
“It’s the brother. He admitted foul gestures and language towards John Amores,” Calvo said.
