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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Heavy bomber: Amores should seriously consider mixed martial arts, says solon

Heavy bomber: Amores should seriously consider mixed martial arts, says solon

Published Nov 18, 2022 10:53 am

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers says John Amores--the 23-year-old college basketball player who figured in a viral hard court brawl earlier this month--should seriously consider a career in mixed martial arts (MMA).

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (left) and John Amores (MANILA BULLETIN, GMA/ NCAA)

"The demeanor he has shown fits the athlete in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) or ONE FC (ONE Championship), mixed martial arts. Mukhang doon siya may talent eh. Para hindi naman masira yung future nung bata (It appears he has the talent for it. The kid should try it to save his future)," Barbers said.

Since his rampage on the court last Nov. 9 during an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 98 basketball game against the College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers, Amores has been suspended indefinitely by the college league and dropped by his own team, the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers.

Asked if he was being sarcastic with his advice, Barbers, who chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said he wasn't.

"Hindi sarcastic yun, totoo yun (That's not sarcastic, that's true). With his power, and strength, and speed---those are not ordinary players, those are big players. Ni-knock down niya eh (He knocked them down), the veteran congressman said.

Barbers was referring to the two CSB players who Amores punched and left lying on the ground after the scuffle.

"I guess he deserved yung pagkakatanggal niya sa team (being removed from his team). That should somehow send a signal to all our athletes to be sportsmen, not be hot-headed. This is the sport of basketball, it tends to be physical but not to the point of engaging in fistfights," he said of Amores, who has also shown a tendency for violence in past games.

"If he wants to succeed in this career (basketball), he has to control his temper. He has to undergo anger management. he should probably think of another sport, baka pwede siya dyan sa MMA (maybe he can do MMA)," Barbers said.

"Of course, if he will be in the professional league of martial arts, he should do so with the proper training, attitude, and dedication," addled the lawmaker from Mindanao.

Barbers stressed that the violent behavior shown by Amores shouldn't be ignored by sports leagues, especially at the collegiate level where the involved higher education institutions (HEIs) can still intervene and straighten out such individuals.

"If he is that good he'll eventually become a pro. If that happens he'll be idolized," he noted.

Amores is facing criminal charges for his outburst, which occurred while JRU was down by 20 points late in the fourth quarter against CSB.

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