Joselito Malig

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Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781172444394UAAP88 MBB- Coach Tab Baldwin-1446.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ateneo men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin.<em> UAAP Media/file</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – The Ateneo de Manila University explained why Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin has yet to speak publicly following the deaths of players Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.</p><p>Since the deaths of the two athletes in a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, Baldwin has been silent and has not been seen in public.  </p><p>In a statement on Thursday, the University said Baldwin&#x27;s silence was not his choice.</p><p>&quot;The University wishes to clarify that Coach Tab Baldwin&#x27;s silence following the tragedy was not a personal decision made independently of the University,&quot; Ateneo said.</p><p>&quot;The University requested that Coach Baldwin refrain from making public statements to allow the official processes to proceed and the facts to be established before any public discussion of the matter,&quot; it added.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/-no-weights-used-in-conditioning-exercise-in-knee-deep-water-says-ateneo-1622"><strong>READ: ‘No weights’ used in ‘conditioning exercise’ in knee-deep water, says Ateneo<br/></strong></a></div><p>Ateneo explained that their guidance to Baldwin was &#x27;to focus his attention on the emotional and psychological welfare of the players, coaches, and staff affected by the incident.&#x27; </p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2065001469976408356&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-06-11T10%3A25%3A38.494744%3Acc57239a-0c41-4527-ab12-f56e9c46d98c%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=aa0a91d9cc9eda3c0f9ed0534966cdec9df34852&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:897px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2065001469976408356"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>The University acknowledged that Baldwin also needs to attend his own well-being, since he was present at the incident and continues to grieve the loss.  </p><p>&quot;At a time when our priority was caring for those most directly affected, we believed it was neither appropriate nor helpful to ask Coach Baldwin to engage in public commentary while the community was mourning and while the circumstances were still being examined,&quot; it said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/ateneo-says-baldwin-manager-epok-quimpo-on-leave-amid-probe-into-adili-baterbonia-deaths-1537"><strong>READ: Ateneo says Baldwin, manager Epok Quimpo ‘on leave’ amid probe into Adili, Baterbonia deaths</strong></a></div><p>Ateneo addressed speculations and clamor online for Baldwin to speak up as head coach of the team.  </p><p>&quot;His silence should therefore not be misconstrued as indifference or a lack of concern. Rather, it reflects the University&#x27;s decision to place care, healing and due process ahead of public discussion,&quot; it said.  </p><p>The University earlier announced the Board of Trustees has &quot;mandated a thorough fact-finding inquiry&quot; into the tragic deaths.  </p><p>Ateneo has also said Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo are on leave to preserve the integrity, independence, and fairness of the investigation. </p><p>Adili and Baterbonia died in a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FACULTY MEMBERS STAND UP FOR ACCOUNTABILITY</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, more than 163 Ateneo faculty members called on the school administration to be more transparent and accountable after the incident.</p><p>They asked whether university regulations and &quot;due process&quot; were followed in holding the activity, and whether safety measures were in place in relation to swimming in open waters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/psc-chairman-blasts-ateneo-s-tab-baldwin-he-has-to-come-forward-1439"><strong>READ: PSC chairman blasts Ateneo&#x27;s Tab Baldwin: &#x27;He has to come forward&#x27;<br/></strong></a></div><p>The educators also asked whether support were handed out to the families of the victims, as well as team members and of the community.</p><p>&quot;We appeal for greater clarity and transparency from the University administration,&quot; the letter said, signed by the faculty members.</p>

<p>The Ateneo de Manila University explained why Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin has yet to speak publicly following the deaths of players Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.</p>

The Ateneo de Manila University explained why Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin has yet to speak publicly following the deaths of players Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.

Ateneo says they asked Tab Baldwin to refrain from speaking publicly after Adili, Baterbonia deaths

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Ateneo says they asked Tab Baldwin to refrain from speaking publicly after Adili, Baterbonia deaths

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 11, 2026 06:28 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

Rene Baterbonia

Divine Adili

Tab Baldwin

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Ateneo de Manila University

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