Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Ateneo De Manila University campus in Katipunan, Quezon City in this photo taken on May 26, 2023. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Ateneo de Manila University finally shed some light on the team-building activity in Aurora that resulted in the tragic deaths of basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.Citing information from people at the activity last Monday, the school said Thursday afternoon that &quot;the team was engaged in a knee-deep exercise near the shoreline when they were suddenly engulfed by massive waves and a powerful rip current.&quot;It added: &quot;While most of the players managed to fight their way back to safety, Rene and Divine were pulled away.&quot; Ateneo also addressed talk on social media that the players had been made to train with ankle weights.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/baterbonia-counsel-seeks-immigration-lookout-bulletin-order-vs-ateneo-coach-baldwin-1215">Baterbonia counsel seeks Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order vs Ateneo coach Baldwin </a></div>&quot;We state categorically, to protect the dignity of our fallen players, that no weights of any kind were used during the exercise,&quot; Ateneo said.The university&#x27;s statement corroborates that of the Aurora Provincial Police Office, which on Wednesday reported that no weights were attached to the bodies of Baterbonia and Adili when they were recovered.As part of its continuing investigation, Ateneo also said that head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Christopher “Epok” Quimpo are on leave.The school also committed itself to coordinating with all investigations being conducted by concerned authorities.

Ateneo de Manila University finally shed some light on the team-building activity that resulted in the tragic deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Ateneo de Manila University finally shed some light on the team-building activity that resulted in the tragic deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

‘No weights’ used in ‘conditioning exercise’ in knee-deep water, says Ateneo

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‘No weights’ used in ‘conditioning exercise’ in knee-deep water, says Ateneo

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 11, 2026 04:22 PM PHT

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Basketball

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Ateneo Blue Eagles

Ateneo de Manila University

Rene Baterbonia

Tab Baldwin

Divine Adili

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