Cheyenne Suarez

'Completely devastating': Ateneo de Davao priest pays tribute to 'Bobet' Baterbonia

Article (news)

Camille Naredo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17811573677881781157550023.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rene Clert Baterbonia in the 2026 National Basketball Training Center. <em>File photo/NBTC. </em></span></span></span>MANILA -- Rene Clert &quot;Bobet&quot; Baterbonia was beloved on and off the court, a &quot;shy varsity player&quot; who nevertheless had a fierce determination to give his family a better life.</div><p>This was the sentiment of Fr. Jboy Gonzales, the director of Ateneo de Davao University&#x27;s Ignatian Spirituality and Formation Office, who eulogized &quot;Bobet&quot; in an emotional social media post.</p><p>Baterbonia, 19, died in a drowning incident on Monday in Dipaculao, Aurora, where the Ateneo de Manila University men&#x27;s basketball team was holding a team-building activity.</p><p>Also perishing in the incident was his teammate, 21-year-old Nigerian center Divine Adili.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/8/uaap-ateneo-s-adili-baterbonia-pass-away-in-drowning-incident-1959">READ: Ateneo’s Adili, Baterbonia pass away in drowning incident</a></div><p>Gonzales said he was at the school clinic when he heard the news, having been injured in the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/relief-struggles-to-reach-southern-davao-occidental-after-devastating-quake-0729">magnitude 7.8 earthquake</a> that struck Mindanao, also on Monday.</p><p>&quot;The physical pain faded instantly; the news was just completely devastating. Parang hindi totoo,&quot; said the priest.</p><p>Gonzales recalled that a few days before his death, they had celebrated with Baterbonia along with his other teammates who were leaving for Metro Manila to play collegiate basketball.</p><p>&quot;I taught Bobet and the team how to treat fans who would like to have a picture!&quot; he said. &quot;And now, just like that, wala na siya.&quot;</p><p>In a series of photos, Gonzales celebrated the life of Baterbonia, whom he first met as &quot;a shy Grade 11 varsity player&quot; two years ago. &quot;Bobet&quot; had moved from Agusan del Sur to play for the senior high school basketball team of Ateneo de Davao. It was there that he made a name for himself, helping them win the Palarong Pambansa crown in 2025 and reaching the finals again earlier this year. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZXKX4pD31s/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A6112903.100000143%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1294" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>&quot;Bobet&#x27;s dreams were never about himself,&quot; said Gonzales. &quot;As one of seven siblings, his ultimate goal was to lift his family  out of poverty.&quot;</p><p>&quot;He promised he wouldn&#x27;t return home permanently until he had secured a better life for them. That unshakeable love drove everything he did.</p><p>&quot;On the court, Bobet was the definition of sportsmanship. He stood tall through losses and never lost his composure,&quot; added Gonzales.</p><p>&quot;His journey reminds us that school sports must be formative first. Our highest calling is to shape character, not just win titles.&quot;</p><p>Baterbonia and Adili&#x27;s deaths have spurred calls for accountability and transparency over what happened at the Blue Eagles&#x27; camp, and Gonzales lent his voice to those expressing grief and hoping for justice.</p><p>&quot;When we welcome student-athletes from the provinces, we become caretakers of their dreams and their families&#x27; hopes. Caring for them means protecting their holistic well-being,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Sana inalagaan ninyo ang inalagaan namin!&quot; he added.</p><p>&quot;Moving forward, sports programs must always prioritize safety, open communication with parents, and protective love.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/6/10/psc-ateneo-basketball-team-building-activity-not-standard-2359">READ: Ateneo basketball team-building activity &#x27;not standard&#x27; -- PSC</a></div><p>Gonzales closed by thanking Baterbonia &quot;for showing us what true determination and love look like.&quot; &quot;His legacy remains,&quot; he added. &quot;He defined excellence not just by his MVP trophy, but by the size of his heart.&quot;</p><p>Baterbonia&#x27;s remains will be brought back to Davao on Friday. He will then be brought to the Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School, where his loved ones can pay their respects. </p><p>Initial findings of the investigation indicate that Adili and Baterbonia could have been carried away from the shoreline by a rip current during their team-building activity at a resort. </p><p>Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed a resolution seeking <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/senate-probe-sought-into-ateneo-player-s-death-0700">a Senate investigation</a> into the circumstances surrounding Baterbonia&#x27;s death, while his family&#x27;s legal counsels are seeking an <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/baterbonia-counsel-seeks-immigration-lookout-bulletin-order-vs-ateneo-coach-baldwin-1215">immigration lookout bulletin order</a> against Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, who has yet to speak after the incident. </p><p>Meanwhile, the Philippine Sports Commission along with other sports stakeholders are looking to push for <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/6/10/psc-stakeholders-panel-eye-stronger-safety-measures-after-ateneo-deaths-2307">stronger safety measures and establish standardized training protocols</a> after the tragedy.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZfcSVuU0Dpg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Rene Clert "Bobet" Baterbonia was beloved on and off the court, a "shy varsity player" who nevertheless had a fierce determination to give his family a better life.</p>

Rene Clert "Bobet" Baterbonia was beloved on and off the court, a "shy varsity player" who nevertheless had a fierce determination to give his family a better life.