MANILA, Philippines — Kinukunsidera na ng kampo ng College of Saint Benilde maghain ng reklamo laban kay John Amores ng Jose Rizal University matapos magpaulan ng suntok habang nasa NCAA basketball game — bagay na ginawa rin ng nabanggit sa player ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.
Martes nang biglang itigil ang laban ng CSB at JRU kahit 3:22 pa ang nalalabing oras matapos sugurin ni Amores ang bench ng Benilde ilang sandali bago manalo ang huli (71-51). Ilan sa nasuntok sina Jimboy Pasturan at Taine Davis.
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"One of my players told me that that his parents are telling him that they should file charges. Maybe it would be more tolerable if it was an isolated incident but this has happened in the past," wika ni Benilde head coach Charles Tiu, Miyerkules, sa panayam ng CNN Philippines.
"I think something needs to be done. I believe they will but I leave it up to the higher ups."
Bandang 3-4 a.m. na raw nakalabas ng ospital ang mga nasuntok na manlalaro, kung saan nagtamo ng black eye si Pasturan. Ipina-CT scan naman daw si Davis dahil sa nakuhang concussion matapos masuntok sa panga. Hindi naman inaasahan ang pangangailangan ng anumang surgery.
Itinanggi naman nina Tiu na prinovoke ng CSB players si Amores, lalo na't pinaalalahanan daw ang mga manlalaro na mag-focus sa Final Four chase.
"My players don't trashtalk because they are not allowed to. We make sure that we stop them from doing any of these things. I yell at them if I ever see them trash talking any player," ani Tiu.
"We know we have a bigger picture. We're here to play basketball. We're not trying to start fights. We held our ground, we held back, and unfortunately my players were punched."
Kasalukuyang second place sa team standings ang Benilde dahil sa hawak na 10-3 win-loss record.
Amores nanuntok din ng UP player noong Hulyo
Hindi ito ang unang beses na nasangkot si Amores sa basag-ulo habang nasa laro, matapos din itong mangyari sa basketball game ng JRU laban sa UP Men's Basketball Team nitong ika-26 ng Hulyo. Nangyari ito sa larong hinost ng Universities and Collegges Basketball League (UCBL).
"[Amores] visciously assaulted a UP player (Mark Belmonte) resulting in gum fracture, teeth dislocation and mouth lacerations," wika ni UP Men's Basketball Team manager Agaton Uvero na isinapubliko ni NowheretogobutUP Foundation president Renan Dalisay.
"A medical surgery to repair the injuries was made at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on the same date."
Sa liham na naka-address sa presidente ng JRU, hiniling din ang internal investigation sa nangyari maliban sa pagpapataw ng disciplinary action.
Humihingi rin ang player ng UP, na 18-anyos pa lang noon, ng reimbursement para sa ginastos niya sa pagpapagamot.
Tumugon naman ang abogado ng JRU na si Manuel Quiambao nitong Agosto na patuloy daw sila sa isinasagawang inquiry sa insidente para ma-establish ang facts at liability.
"The unfortunate incident [yesterday] afternoon where some CSB players were seriously injured could have been avoided if the school administration and the coaching staff of JRU acted swiftly on the matter," sabi ni Dalisay.
"We expected JRU to take proactive steps. But since nothing came out of our efforts with the school’s administration, we were morally bound to file a criminal case against JRU player John Amores."