Joselito Malig

UAAP bars Ateneo staff present in Aurora incident amid probes

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA – The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has barred all the coaching staff of the Ateneo de Manila University Men&#x27;s Basketball Team present in the team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora that claimed the lives of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.</p><p>The league issued a statement on Friday announcing the development, which is effective until the results of the investigations into the tragic incident last June 8.</p><p>&quot;The Board of Trustees of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines has approved the recommendation of the Board of Managing Directors to bar from the UAAP all the coaching staff of the Ateneo de Manila University who were present during the June 8 incident in Dipaculao, Aurora, pending the outcome of the investigations of the concerned government agencies, Ateneo’s independent fact-finding inquiry, and the League’s own investigation,&quot; the league said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/deaths-of-ateneo-student-athletes-not-an-accident-cidg-1906"><strong>READ: Deaths of Ateneo student-athletes not an accident: CIDG<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;As such, they are prohibited from participating in any UAAP-related activities, in any capacity, effective immediately and while these investigations are being conducted,&quot; it added.</p><p>The league said the “preemptive measure” is being adopted even before UAAP Season 89 to “preserve the integrity of the ongoing inquiry and to ensure full transparency and due process.”</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FABSCBNSports%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02zrB7GqMF2AoYVQYa2ZFW2nJRYQ56kLpzx1i5rP4in4nUTXUUchj6135cm8eRz2v4l&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="728" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Aside from the preemptive action, the league has given the Ateneo de Manila University until July 15, 2026 to submit its official findings regarding the incident. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/18/ateneo-student-council-calls-for-community-walkout-1731"><strong>READ: Ateneo student council calls for community walkout<br/></strong></a></div><p>Ateneo earlier said it has called for a thorough fact-finding investigation into the deaths of it athlete, saying it may last for two weeks or more before completion. </p><p>The University on Monday announced it has accepted the resignation of Tab Baldwin as head coach and Epok Quimpo as team manager.</p><p>In a statement last Sunday, the UAAP said it is closely monitoring investigations by law enforcement agencies, while assuring it will impose sanctions if there are proven violations.</p><p>&quot;Amidst differing and clashing perceptions on this tragic incident, the UAAP, as a collegial body, is committed to adhere to its own governing rules and processes, where the acts of a Member-University and personalities involved will be thoroughly evaluated by the other member schools before passing judgment,&quot; it said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/17/from-team-building-to-tragedy-ateneo-players-recount-ill-fated-aurora-trip-0014"><strong>READ: From team-building to tragedy: Ateneo players recount ill-fated Aurora trip<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;The UAAP reiterates that accountability shall be determined based on the results of a thorough and impartial investigation and its fidelity to its own rules and regulations. All those found responsible for any wrongdoing shall be held fully accountable under league regulations,&quot; the league added.</p><p>The Ateneo Men&#x27;s Basketball Team earlier withdrew from competing in the remainder of the 19th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup, a tournament where teams usually play in before the UAAP season.</p><p>Since the team&#x27;s withdrawal, current and former Ateneo men&#x27;s basketball players and coaching staff have appeared before the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and National Bureau of Investigation, bodies looking into the tragic incident.</p><p>Adili and Baterbonia died in a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.</p>

<p>The UAAP has barred all the coaching staff of the Ateneo de Manila University Men's Basketball Team present in the team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora that claimed the lives of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.</p>

The UAAP has barred all the coaching staff of the Ateneo de Manila University Men's Basketball Team present in the team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora that claimed the lives of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.