Romwel Anzures

Ateneo de Manila University rookie Kieffer Alas against Adamson University. File photo/19th FilOil Preseason Cup.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781625014089AJG_8200.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ateneo de Manila University rookie Kieffer Alas against Adamson University. <em>File photo/19th FilOil Preseason Cup.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Ateneo rookie Kieffer Alas is among those who have faced the strongest backlash following the tragic deaths of his teammates, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.</div><p>Speaking on <a class="fr-green fr-strong" 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>, the Las Piñas native aired his grievances, saying the Ateneo de Manila University’s response to the incident contributed to the hate he and his teammates have been receiving since the tragedy on June 8.</p><p>Ateneo communicated mostly through press releases in the days after the deaths of their student-athletes, with the school posting a pre-recorded video of former head coach Tab Baldwin only on Friday. It took a week before university officials faced the media in a press conference and answered questions. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/16/-i-was-going-to-accept-na-mawawala-na-po-ako-alas-speaks-up-on-dipaculao-tragedy-1924"><strong>&#x27;I was going to accept na mawawala na po ako&#x27;: Kieffer Alas speaks up on Dipaculao tragedy</strong></a></div><p>“I feel like the speculations and rumors and the threats and hate towards us players was due to maybe not enough information,” said Alas, who appeared alongside teammate Sam Reyes. “So that just made them guess from all the photos and pictures and hearsay around. I think that&#x27;s what caused this.”</p><p>Alas has been the subject of social media conversations, with some online claiming that he was envious of Baterbonia. The narrative has spawned various speculations, including claims that the Agusan del Sur native was not accepted by some members of the team due to insecurity.</p><p>However, Alas emphasized that such narratives are simply not true.</p><p>“It&#x27;s like going through two deaths po. The first one is losing our two teammates, then now being criticized for their deaths,” he said. “They&#x27;re just putting the blame on us.”</p><p>Among the criticisms directed at Alas stemmed from a photo that has been circulating online.</p><p>In the image, he was seen standing while some of his teammates and coaches were carrying Adili’s body after it had been recovered.</p><p>Alas, however, clarified that at that moment, he and one of the assistant coaches had just returned after trying to catch the ambulance that had already left with Baterbonia’s body.</p><p>“Tinakbo namin yung ambulance, but it left,” he said. “Almost everybody nagbubuhat. Then I was just on the side walking with them, tapos nung may nahihirapan na po, ako naman po pumalit.”</p><p>Alas also shared that they even were among the first responders when Baterbonia’s body was recovered.</p><p>“When we saw Rene, it was us who carried him out of the water. Not first responders. Wala pong tumulong,” he said. “[The responders] were just spectating po. They were just watching us. There was one guy na po was just, he had like his phone out like that po. I was wondering why. I saw it with my eyes na he was just filming.”</p><p>Unfortunately, the hate has only intensified, with Alas revealing that they have been receiving death threats — a development earlier disclosed by former Ateneo head coach Sandy Arespacochaga.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/ex-ateneo-deputy-arespacochaga-calls-for-end-to-threats-against-players-0000"><strong>READ: Ex-Ateneo deputy Arespacochaga calls for end to threats against players</strong></a></div><p>“Yung mga sinabi [ni Coach Sandy] ginawa po nilang masama,” said Alas.</p><p>That is why, amid the trauma brought not only by the tragedy but also by the backlash they have faced, Alas decided to finally speak out.</p><p>“We talked about it kanina na we should at least try ng konti to express what actually happened and hopefully na it will clear up whatever speculations happening,” said Alas.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:<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></strong></div>

<p>Ateneo rookie Kieffer Alas is among those who have faced the strongest backlash following the tragic deaths of his teammates, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.</p>

Ateneo rookie Kieffer Alas is among those who have faced the strongest backlash following the tragic deaths of his teammates, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

'Lack of information' after Aurora tragedy contributed to backlash vs. players, says Alas

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'Lack of information' after Aurora tragedy contributed to backlash vs. players, says Alas

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 17, 2026 12:16 AM PHT

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