AN OPEN LETTER TO ATENEO BASKETBALL TEAM
Coach Tab Baldwin
Head Coach,
Ateneo Blue Eagles
Men’s Basketball Team
Ateneo de Manila University
Katipunan Avenue,
Loyola Heights
Quezon City,
Philippines
Dear Coach Baldwin,
We write to you with a heavy heart and profound sorrow following the tragic deaths of two young members of the Ateneo Blue Eagles men’s basketball team — Rene Clert Baterbonia, 19, and Divine Adili, 21 — who drowned yesterday, June 8, 2026, during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
As supporters of Ateneo basketball and someone who deeply values the program you have built, we are devastated by this loss. These were promising student-athletes with bright futures ahead of them. Rene was a highly regarded rookie recruit and former Palarong Pambansa standout, while Divine was a key contributor to the team.
Their deaths are not just a tragedy for their families, teammates, and the entire Ateneo community. They represent a preventable loss that demands immediate answers and decisive action.
The incident occurred during an official team-building activity under the Ateneo basketball program. Reports indicate the players were pulled by strong currents while participating in what has been described in public discussions as part of the long-standing “BEBOB” boot camp tradition.
While the Philippine National Police in Aurora has preliminarily ruled it an accident with no foul play, the fact that two young lives were lost during a university-supervised event raises serious questions about the safety protocols in place.
We respectfully but firmly demand the following:
Full Accountability:
Conduct and publicly disclose a comprehensive, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the team-building activity.
This must include a detailed review of the risk assessment conducted prior to the event, the qualifications and number of safety personnel and lifeguards present, the swimming abilities of all participants, weather and water condition monitoring, emergency response procedures, and the exact sequence of events.
Transparency is essential. The families of Rene and Divine, the Ateneo community, and the public deserve complete answers, not statements of condolence alone.
Immediate Changes to Team-Building Protocols:
Revise all team-building and off-court training activities to prioritize safety above all else. This includes mandatory pre-activity swim tests and certifications for every player, professional lifeguard supervision at any water-based activity, strict adherence to weather and current advisories, and the presence of medical and rescue personnel equipped for water emergencies.
Eliminate or fundamentally reform any secretive or high-risk “boot camp” traditions that place student-athletes in potentially dangerous situations without adequate safeguards. Team bonding and discipline can and must be achieved through methods that do not endanger lives.
Establish clear, written university-approved safety guidelines for all athletic team activities, with mandatory annual review and external audit.
The culture of excellence you have instilled in the Blue Eagles is admired by many, but no championship, no tradition, and no amount of discipline is worth the cost of a young life.
True leadership now requires owning this tragedy and ensuring it never happens again. We urge you, as head coach, to lead these changes personally and to work with Ateneo de Manila University administration to implement them without delay. Anything less would fail the memory of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, their grieving families, and the current and future players who trust the program with their lives.
The entire Philippine basketball community is watching. We hope you will respond not with silence or deflection, but with the same resolve and accountability that you demand from your players on the court.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this urgent matter. We await your public statement and concrete action plan.
Sincerely,
Concerned Citizens of the Philippines
“Coach hindi muna ako babalik nang mga 5 years sa Davao kasi gusto ko muna yumaman at iahon ang aking pamilya sa kahirapan.”
Rene’s last message to his coach before going to Manila. 💔