Two Ateneo Basketball Players Drown in Strong Currents During Team-Building Activity in Aurora

Rene Baterbonia, 19, and teammate Divine Adili drowned on June 8 while taking part in a team activity in the sea at a private resort in Dipaculao, Aurora. The two were swept away by strong currents, according to initial findings by the Aurora Police Provincial Office.

Baterbonia had moved to the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Katipunan, Quezon City, on June 4 after helping Davao Region win silver at the Palarong Pambansa hosted by Agusan del Sur.

The team fell short of defending its 2025 title against Calabarzon. His mother, Rovelyn Baterbonia, embraced him at the airport before he flew to Manila and later received a text message saying he would be away from his phone for a week because of the Blue Eagles’ team building.

The remains of Baterbonia and Adili were transferred from Aurora Memorial Hospital to Arlington Memorial Chapels and Crematory in Quezon City on the morning of June 9.

Rovelyn Baterbonia arrived in Manila from Davao City the same day with her husband and other son. Ateneo university president Fr. Roberto Yap met the family at the chapel, spent time with them, joined them in prayer, and blessed Rene’s remains.

Rovelyn Baterbonia told GMA News and News5 in Filipino. “It hurts. ” She added that she had not been told the trip would involve that kind of training. “If only I had known that there would be a training like that, even though we’re poor, I would have never allowed my son to be put in danger,” she said.

“They never really told us that there would be that kind of training. ’ so that we could make a decision together. ” “My son’s dreams lasted only a moment. They destroyed them,” Rovelyn Baterbonia said.

She also asked why rescuers took so long to find him and why the group went without a rescue team or medic. The Aurora Police Provincial Office found no indication of foul play. Police Colonel Percival Pineda, acting Provincial Director of Aurora PPO, said the Blue Eagles have held similar activities at the same resort for years.

Police asked the public to refrain from sharing unverified information. The Philippine Sports Commission said on June 9 that it would investigate the incident. It formed a multi-stakeholder body that includes the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education, and the National Youth Commission.

The panel will examine existing policies, protocols, and training practices to strengthen safeguards in athletic training environments. Rovelyn Baterbonia said she hopes for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable. “The only thing I want now is an investigation.

To anyone who wants to help, I’m asking for help,” she said.