MANILA (June 10) — Grief, unanswered questions, and calls for accountability continue to surround the deaths of two student-athletes from the Ateneo de Manila University basketball program following a team-building activity in Aurora province.
On Tuesday, Rovelyn Baterbonia arrived in Manila seeking answers about the death of her son, 19-year-old Rene Baterbonia, a rising basketball star from Davao and the Most Valuable Player of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.
In an earlier statement, Ateneo confirmed that Rene and fellow student-athlete Divine Adili, 21, died during a team-building activity in Aurora. However, Rene’s mother said she had been told her son was attending a week-long training camp in Baler and was unaware of the nature and intensity of the activities involved.
“They didn’t say anything about that type of training,” Rovelyn told reporters upon arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. “If only I had known how intense it was, I would have talked to my son about whether he could do it.”
According to her, Rene had simply informed her through a text message that he would be unreachable for a week because of training in Baler.
“I thought it was just training, not military training,” she said.
The grieving mother questioned the safety measures in place during the activity and asked why rescue personnel were not immediately available. She also expressed disappointment over what she described as a lack of communication from the university following her son’s death.
“They didn’t even send me his picture. I only saw a photo of my son online,” she said.
Rene had recently completed the 2026 Palarong Pambansa and had joined the Ateneo Blue Eagles program only weeks earlier. Family members said he hoped basketball would help lift his family out of poverty.
Former Players Defend Program
As public discussion intensified online, several former Ateneo basketball players appealed for caution against speculation and unverified claims regarding the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The debate gained momentum after an old podcast featuring former Blue Eagles players resurfaced on social media. In the interview, former players described the annual beach training in Aurora as physically demanding and “military-like,” prompting some netizens to speculate that the deaths may have been linked to initiation rites.
Former Ateneo player Shaggy Allmond strongly rejected those claims.
“There is absolutely no way that this had anything to do with initiation,” Allmond wrote in a social media post shared by former players Mike Nieto, Shaun Ildefonso, and Anton Assistio.
According to Allmond, the purpose of the beach camp was conditioning, team bonding, and mental toughness, not hazing or initiation activities.
He explained that players spent most of their time undergoing physically demanding exercises and recovery periods, leaving little opportunity for anything else.
The resurfaced podcast included recollections from former player Mike Nieto, who described the training as rigorous. Participants were reportedly awakened before dawn for exercises on the beach and in the water under the supervision of coaches and staff.
Allmond later said portions of the interview had been taken out of context.
“Yes, that was probably the most physically and mentally draining training I’ve ever experienced, but there was nothing done to us that would put us in immediate danger,” he said.
He also urged the public to avoid making accusations while investigations are ongoing and to allow the families time to grieve.
“The only people there are the team, coaches, and staff. They are the ones who know the truth, so let’s let things take their natural course before making horrid accusations,” he said.
Investigation and Accountability
The deaths of Rene and Divine have sparked widespread concern within the sports community and among parents of student-athletes, raising questions about safety protocols, risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and supervision during off-campus training activities.
As authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, Rene’s family is demanding transparency and accountability.
For Rovelyn Baterbonia, the focus remains on finding out exactly what happened to her son.
“I want answers,” she said, as family members prepared to receive Rene’s remains and seek justice for the young athlete whose dreams were only beginning to unfold.
