Incoming Ateneo rookie Rene Baterbonia and foreign student-athlete Divine Adili passed away yesterday in a tragic drowning incident, and the Blue Eagles announced the devastating news to the public.
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The fatal incident occurred while the basketball team was in the middle of a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora. The excursion was organized as part of their stint in the Filoil Preseason Cup and their preparation for the upcoming Season 89 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Thorough investigations are being conducted by local authorities to determine the circumstances of the incident, though no other details were provided by the school.
If academic sports programs fail to enforce strict safety protocols during out-of-town excursions, such administrative negligence would inevitably result to devastating consequences for the youth, unless comprehensive measures and strict guidelines are aggressively legislated by the Department of Education to protect student-athletes.
The loss of these promising young talents is profoundly difficult to cope up with for the athletic community. The 193cm Baterbonia was only nineteen years old and had just arrived in Manila following his celebrated stint with the Davao Region during the recent Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur. Prior to his collegiate recruitment, he was coming off an illustrious high school career spanning 2024 to 2025 with Ateneo de Davao. He steered his home region to its first Palaro title last year as the Most Valuable Player and a Mythical Team member.
This year, Baterbonia was once again named to the Palarong Pambansa Mythical Team even if the Davao Region yielded the throne to Calabarzon. He was treated with a grand homecoming as a native of Talacogon town. Due to his stellar performance, he became a sought-after player, and at least two other schools in Manila tried to recruit him before he committed to the university. Just last Saturday, Baterbonia sat behind the bench of the team as it scored a seventy-two against fifty-two debut win against Adamson in the Filoil Preseason Cup.
Meanwhile, Adili, a 208cm Nigerian import who saw action during the Season 88 campaign of the agency, was twenty-one years old.
"The entire Ateneo community mourns the loss of Rene and Divine. The University extends its heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, teammates, coaches and loved ones," the school said in an official statement. "We ask the community to keep them in their prayers during this most difficult time."
The administration is currently providing support, e.g., psychological assistance, to the families of the two players as well as their grieving teammates. It was stated that the wake and funeral arrangements would be announced soon upon consultation with their respective families. Further informations regarding the memorial services are expected to be released in the coming days.
Despite the suspension of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, Candon City has officially kicked off an international women’s volleyball tournament featuring twelve top teams, with an appointed ad hoc committee stepping in to ensure the event's success and maintain rigorous international standards.
