Romwel Anzures

Ateneo de Manila University rookie Kieffer Alas. Screen capture from The Pod Network’s Let’s Talk with Pia Hontiveros.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781608842772IMG_1195.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Ateneo de Manila University rookie Kieffer Alas. Screen capture from The Pod Network’s Let’s Talk with Pia Hontiveros. MANILA — Ateneo de Manila University rookie Kieffer Alas shared his near-death experience during the tragedy that claimed the lives of teammates Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.</div>In an appearance on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzSL93G_M1w&amp;list=PL4ZWJHx5-h59Ra7rrPhO2q62DfjA2ZX_z&amp;index=2">The Pod Network’s Let’s Talk with Pia Hontiveros</a>, Alas, alongside fellow Blue Eagle Sam Reyes, recounted how he came close to “giving up” after being swept by one of the waves.“My head wasn&#x27;t straight kasi I just didn&#x27;t know what to do. It&#x27;s like underwater, I guess more than 20 seconds. Parang nag-give up na po ako noon,” the rookie said.When asked by Hontiveros to clarify what he meant by “give up,” Alas explained that he had already accepted the possibility of dying.“Nag-give up na po talaga ako. I was going to accept na mawawala na po ako,” he said. “Parang ang tagal noon eh. Before I felt the ocean floor, time just kept on going by. I finally felt the ocean floor.”Aside from Alas and Reyes, three other members of the Ateneo men&#x27;s basketball team also recounted their harrowing experiences during the fateful day at the coastal town of Dipaculao.Team captain Jared Bahay, Ian Espinosa, and Andrew Bongo shared their account of the events of June 8 during <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/17/from-team-building-to-tragedy-ateneo-players-recount-ill-fated-aurora-trip-0014">a town hall at the Ateneo de Manila University campus</a>, revealing that they started the day in high spirits after completing their first workout successfully.But things took a tragic -- and eventually deadly -- turn in the afternoon, when players were swept away by waves during an exercise where they were tasked to jog in knee-deep waters. Investigations are still on-going regarding the incident, with members of the Ateneo coaching staff and university personnel receiving subpoenas. On Monday, head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Christopher &quot;Epok&quot; Quimpo resigned from their posts. Baldwin skipped separate hearings at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the labor department on Monday, but is expected to receive another subpoena in connection with the tragedy. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/16/baldwin-misses-nbi-probe-but-will-fully-cooperate-says-lawyer-1352">READ: Baldwin misses NBI probe but will ‘fully cooperate,’ says lawyer</a></div>

Ateneo de Manila University rookie Kieffer Alas shared his near-death experience during the tragedy that claimed the lives of teammates Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Ateneo de Manila University rookie Kieffer Alas shared his near-death experience during the tragedy that claimed the lives of teammates Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

'I was going to accept na mawawala na po ako': Kieffer Alas speaks up on Dipaculao tragedy

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'I was going to accept na mawawala na po ako': Kieffer Alas speaks up on Dipaculao tragedy

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 16, 2026 07:24 PM PHT

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Updated June 17, 2026 12:51 AM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

ABSSports

Ateneo

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Tab Baldwin

Ateneo de Manila University

Epok Quimpo

UAAP

Divine Adili

Rene Baterbonia

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