Camille Naredo

A tarpaulin declaring San Nicolas, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur as "Baterbonia Country." Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Rene Baterbonia

Hernel Tocmo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781327833203Screen Shot 2026-06-13 at 9.41.17 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A tarpaulin declaring San Nicolas, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur as &quot;Baterbonia Country.&quot; Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News"/>A tarpaulin declaring San Nicolas, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur as &quot;Baterbonia Country.&quot; Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News</div>AGUSAN DEL SUR -- &quot;Welcome to Baterbonia Country.&quot;A huge tarpaulin mounted in San Nicolas, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur shows the pride that Rene Clert Baterbonia brought to his community, after he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Palarong Pambansa 2025.But after his tragic death last Monday, it has also become a memorial, with flowers and lighted candles placed in front of the large banner.Baterbonia, 18, died in a drowning incident while in a team building activity with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Dipaculao, Aurora. Also perishing was his teammate, Nigerian center Divine Adili.<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&#x27;s Adili, Baterbonia pass away in drowning incident</a></div>Inside the Baterbonia near the Agusan River, Rene&#x27;s photos are seen inside and outside the abode. Numerous medals as well as plaques and recognitions are proudly displayed.Baterbonia had shown great potential during his high school career, leading the Davao region to its first-ever basketball title in the Palarong Pambansa in 2025 wherein he scored 19 points in the Final.He later helped the Philippines win the 14th ASEAN School Games, before taking home the silver medal in his final Palarong Pambansa. The 6-foot-4 standout was already in attendance when Ateneo opened its campaign in the 19th FilOil Preseason Cup last June 6 with a 72-52 win over Adamson University.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781327888363Screen Shot 2026-06-13 at 9.51.27 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s medals, awards and trophies are displayed in his home in Agusan del Sur. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News"/>Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s medals, awards and trophies are displayed in his home in Agusan del Sur. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News</div>Marilyn Balderas Plaza, the sister of Rene&#x27;s grandmother, tearfully showed the silver medal he won during the basketball finals of the Palarong Pambansa 2026 — a reminder of the last days they spent with him.The week-long Palarong Pambansa held in Agusan del Sur also gave Rene an opportunity to spend time with his family, as he had been living in Davao City for his senior high school studies through a scholarship sponsored by a private individual.Marilyn could not hold back her emotions while reading the last message she sent to &quot;Bobet&quot; before he left for Manila to pursue his dream of finishing his studies and advancing his basketball career: &quot;Take care, Bobet. Pray always. Andito lang kami para sayo. para sa mga pangarap mo. Mami-miss ka namin.&quot;What she thought was simply a message of encouragement has now become a farewell message to her beloved grandson, who replied: &quot;Salamat, mommy.&quot;<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/9/rene-baterbonia-s-passing-cuts-short-a-promising-path-beyond-ateneo-1145">READ: Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s passing cuts short a promising path beyond Ateneo</a></div>Jocelyn Balderas Noja, Rene&#x27;s grandmother, said what she misses most about Bobet was his constant communication with the family, as he always checked on them. Before leaving for Manila, he even set aside money to help with the family&#x27;s needs.The family breaks down in tears whenever they think about Rene and the tragedy that befell him during the team-building activity in Aurora.Jocelyn could not hold back her tears as she recalled the hardships Rene endured while growing up and the kindness he consistently showed to his family.&quot;Mingawon mi sa iyang kamaayo sa amo. Grabe ka buotan nga bata. Grabe ka sakit. Ambot unsaon namo ni pag-move on,&quot; she said.(Mami-miss namin ang kabutihan niya sa amin. Napakabait niyang bata, kaya napakasakit sa amin ang nangyari. Hindi namin alam kung paano kami makaka-move on.)Marilyn was also hurt by the photos circulating online from the team-building activity, which some netizens interpreted as showing Rene being left out from the group.&quot;Kung totoo man yung kumakain sila, sila lang nag-ano, tapos yung apo ko, andon siya lang mag-isa. Nasasaktan kasi ako kasi pag kami kumakain, hindi nagsisimula kung wala si Rene. Hinihintay namin. Espesyal talaga siya pagdating dito,&quot; she said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781327926066Screen Shot 2026-06-13 at 9.52.06 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s medals, awards and trophies are displayed in his home in Agusan del Sur. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News"/>Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s medals, awards and trophies are displayed in his home in Agusan del Sur. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News</div>Like many Filipinos, Rene&#x27;s family wants clarity on what truly transpired in Aurora, where he drowned, and hopes that justice will be served as soon as possible.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/13/baterbonia-s-former-coach-agent-appeal-to-tab-baldwin-and-ateneo-for-clarity-1012">READ: Baterbonia’s former coach, agent appeal to Tab Baldwin and Ateneo for clarity</a></div>&quot;Tulungan niyo naman yung apo ko. Tulungan niyo si Rene. Sana may isang tao, isang kasamahan na makokonsensya, sasabihin ang lahat. Ba&#x27;t sila pang dalawa ang nawala,&quot; Marilyn said.His agent, Joevince Eusebio, has also appealed to Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin to reach out to the family privately and explain what truly happened. Baldwin broke his silence on Friday night, acknowledging that he had &quot;<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/12/-i-failed-as-a-leader-as-a-coach-says-baldwin-as-he-breaks-silence-on-adili-baterbonia-s-death-1935">failed as a leader, as a coach</a>.&quot;Rene&#x27;s remains are currently lying in state at a chapel inside his alma mater, Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Campus, and will later be transported to his hometown of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.

In Rene Baterbonia's Agusan del Sur home, awards stand as reminders of budding greatness

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In Rene Baterbonia's Agusan del Sur home, awards stand as reminders of budding greatness

Hernel Tocmo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 13, 2026 01:28 PM PHT

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Updated June 13, 2026 02:38 PM PHT

Read More:

Rene Baterbonia

Ateneo de Manila University

wake

Ateneo drowning incident

Divine Adili

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Palarong Pambansa

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