SENATOR and Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports Christopher “Bong” Go on Friday, November 11, expressed dismay over a recent brawl involving Jose Rizal University player John Amores during a National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball match against College of St. Benilde.

In a Senate hearing on the 2023 budget of the Philippine Sports Commission, Go could not help but show his anger over what had happened and emphasized that there is no place for violent behavior in the basketball court.

“We promote sportsmanship. Fan ako ng basketball kaya nalulungkot ako sa nangyayari. Walang lugar sa sports ang court violence,” he stressed.

Go said that the PSC has reminded the NCAA and the Samahan ng Basketbol ng Pilipinas to take preventative measures to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.

The senator, who defended the PSC’s budget, said that authorities may impose sanctions for athletes who violate its rules and regulations, especially acts of violence.

According to Go, the PSC is keeping an eye on any new developments regarding the incident and is also considering more possible sanctions against Amores, who has been barred from playing for an indefinite period by both the NCAA Management Committee and his university.

“Nakatutok dito ang PSC, lalung-lalo na’t galit ang ating mamamayang Pilipino sa nangyari,” said Go.

The incident took place during the final quarter of the game between JRU and CSB at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on November 8. Amores barged into the CSB bench and punched a few of the players, leaving some of them hurt.

When asked what the PSC should do in such cases, Go expressed his displeasure with Amores’ lack of sportsmanship and aggressive behavior on the court, adding that he should be taught a lesson.

“Bilang isang basketball player at mamamayang Pilipino, ito ang sagot ko: Dapat bugbugin rin ‘yung John Amores na ‘yan… (Pero) ako naman bilang Committee Chair on Sports, we promote sportsmanship,” Go expressed.

“The PSC is responsible in the promotion of sports.. and is tasked to coordinate all amateur sports development. The PSC is also empowered to impose penalties, among others, on athletes for violations of rules… The PSC must exercise its supervisory rights over amateur sports on this incident”, he reminded.

A sports enthusiast, Go also authored and co-sponsored the measure that became Republic Act No. 11470. The law, which former president Rodrigo Duterte signed in June 2020, provides for the establishment of the National Academy of Sports at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.

The NAS also offers a secondary education program with an integrated special curriculum on sports which was developed in close coordination with the Department of Education and PSC.

He has also pushed for other legislative measures to safeguard athletes’ welfare as part of the country’s sports development programs. Previously, he expressed his support for the establishment of the Philippine Sports Training Center.

Signed by President Duterte in February 2019, RA 11214 provides for the creation of the PSTC which seeks “to promote and develop sports in the country, to achieve excellence in international sports competitions, to ensure success in the country’s quest to achieve competitiveness in the Olympic Games and to promote international amity among nations.”

Go highlighted that together with the National Academy of Sports, both institutions are gifts from the government to national athletes.

As one of his priority measures in the 19th Congress, Go also filed Senate Bill No. 423, or the proposed Philippine National Games (PNG) Act of 2022, to provide a structure for a more comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports promotion to national sports development.