Two Ateneo basketball players drown during team training in Aurora

Rene Baterbonia, 19, and Divine Adili, 21, both members of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles basketball team, drowned on Monday during a school-sanctioned team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on the east coast of Luzon island. Police stated on Monday that initial findings showed the two had been carried by a strong current while swimming in the open sea.

One day later, police said there was no indication of foul play and described the deaths as a natural accident.

Three days after the incident, Ateneo de Manila University stated the team had been engaged in a conditioning exercise in knee-deep water near the shoreline when they were suddenly engulfed by massive waves and a powerful rip current. The university said most players managed to fight their way back to safety, but Baterbonia and Adili were pulled away.

Ateneo disputed rumours that ankle weights had been placed on the athletes during training.

Both players were incoming or current members of the Blue Eagles squad at the private university, which competes in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the nation’s premier collegiate league.