Romwel Anzures

Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin in UAAP Season 88. File photo/UAAP Media.

Article (news)

Zyann Ambrosio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781588149673UAAP88 MBB - COACH TAB BALDWIN-1541.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin in UAAP Season 88. File photo/UAAP Media.MANILA (UPDATED) — Newly-resigned Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin was again absent as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continues its probe into the drowning of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.</div><div><a 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>“He was not in a good condition to appear, so the NBI gave us another setting,” Atty. Karl Justeen David told reporters on Tuesday morning. “We will try to talk to him if he will appear in the next setting.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/15/ateneo-head-coach-tab-baldwin-resigns-in-wake-of-student-athletes-deaths-1424">READ: Ateneo coach Baldwin, team manager Quimpo resign after deaths of student-athletes</a></div>Baldwin is among the five individuals expected to appear before the NBI.But while this marked the second straight day that the American-Kiwi mentor skipped the probe, David assured that Baldwin would cooperate with the investigation.“Coach Tab will fully cooperate with all the ongoing investigations and all the legal procedures,” said David. “But we will have to take that up with him first, so we cannot say for certain when.”On Monday, Baldwin likewise <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/15/ateneo-s-tab-baldwin-expected-to-face-cidg-labor-dept-0954">failed to appear</a> before the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), where he had been scheduled to attend separate proceedings.Meanwhile, David also briefly addressed the accusations circulating online, with Baldwin’s estranged wife, Efi, and several other individuals making serious allegations against the former Gilas Pilipinas mentor.“We take those allegations seriously, but we prefer to focus for now on the subject matter of the ongoing investigations,” said David.Some Ateneo players showed up to the NBI on Monday to give their account of the tragic incident in Aurora that led to the deaths of their teammates.Among those was EJ Kahipe Jr., who said: &quot;Although I&#x27;ve only been here a short time, through this very traumatic and nauseating experience, I&#x27;ve gained a family. We mourn our fallen brothers, Devine and Rene, and we&#x27;ll carry them for the rest of our lives.&quot;Authorities said Kahipe&#x27;s appearance forms part of the widening investigation as the NBI gathers testimonies from all relevant individuals to establish the full circumstances of the incident.Coach Sandro Soriano is also expected to personally appear before authorities later this week, according to his legal counsel, Atty. Raymund Roland Rojas. Rojas confirmed that Soriano, who recently returned to the country, has no intention of evading the ongoing inquiries and remains willing to cooperate with investigators.&quot;He is not going anywhere. In fact, he wants to face all of this and have the matter resolved. He is willing to cooperate with the authorities,&quot; Rojas said.The lawyer disclosed that Soriano is scheduled to appear before the NBI on Thursday and before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Friday, alongside other coaches who have also been summoned.According to Rojas, Soriano&#x27;s absence during an earlier proceeding was due to his current emotional and psychological condition.&quot;We submitted a certificate from the Ateneo Center for Guidance and Counseling attesting that Coach Sandro Soriano is currently under treatment and experiencing emotional distress,&quot; he explained.Rojas added that the legal team formally undertook to present Soriano before investigators this week.&quot;That&#x27;s the reason why he did not appear today. We have committed to bring him before the authorities on Thursday, and he will also appear before the CIDG on Friday,&quot; he said.Despite the challenges brought by the ongoing investigation, Soriano&#x27;s camp maintained that the young coach remains prepared to answer questions from authorities as the probe continues.Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that all concerned parties will be afforded due process as they present their respective statements.

Newly resigned Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin was again absent as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continues its probe into the deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Newly resigned Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin was again absent as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continues its probe into the deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

‘Not in good condition’: Baldwin misses NBI probe but will ‘fully cooperate,’ says lawyer

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‘Not in good condition’: Baldwin misses NBI probe but will ‘fully cooperate,’ says lawyer

Rom Anzures,

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 16, 2026 01:52 PM PHT

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Updated June 16, 2026 03:08 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

PBA

ABSSports

Ateneo

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Tab Baldwin

Ateneo de Manila University

Epok Quimpo

UAAP

Divine Adili

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