Romwel Anzures

Ateneo de Manila University rookie Rene Clert Baterbonia. Photo from NBTC.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178098231849206b5dab86ef49b819988cd3a11de6f87.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Ateneo de Manila University rookie Rene Clert Baterbonia. Photo from NBTC.TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur — The family of 19-year-old basketball standout <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">Rene Clert Baterbonia</a> plans to bring his remains home to Talacogon, Agusan del Sur following his tragic death in a drowning incident in Dipaculao, Aurora.</div>Baterbonia, a rookie player of Ateneo de Manila University, was among two students who died in the incident on June 8. The university also confirmed the death of his teammate, Divine Adili, 21.In a phone interview with ABS-CBN News on Tuesday, Rene&#x27;s uncle, Sandy Baterbonia, said the family&#x27;s immediate priority is to bring the young athlete back to his hometown.&quot;Our first plan is to bring him home to Talacogon,&quot; Sandy said.He also confirmed that Rene&#x27;s parents have traveled to Manila to attend to the necessary arrangements and receive their son&#x27;s remains.The family has appealed for privacy as they mourn the sudden loss of their loved one.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/9/pnp-aurora-says-no-foul-play-in-drowning-of-ateneo-s-adili-baterbonia-1238">READ: PNP Aurora says no foul play in drowning of Ateneo&#x27;s Adili, Baterbonia</a></div>Meanwhile, the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur expressed grief over Baterbonia&#x27;s death. In a social media post, Santiago Cane Jr. described the young athlete as one of the province&#x27;s brightest sports talents and said his passing was a significant loss to the entire province.The governor added that many questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered and assured that the province would not take the tragedy lightly.Baterbonia was a product of Agusan del Sur&#x27;s sports development program and rose to prominence after being named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the basketball tournament of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City.Earlier this year, he helped the Davao Region Athletic Association Eagles secure a silver medal in the secondary boys&#x27; basketball tournament at the Palarong Pambansa.His untimely death has left the Agusan del Sur sports community in mourning, with many remembering him as one of the province&#x27;s most promising young basketball talents.

The family of 19-year-old basketball standout Rene Clert Baterbonia plans to bring his remains home to Talacogon, Agusan del Sur following his tragic death in a drowning incident in Dipaculao, Aurora.

The family of 19-year-old basketball standout Rene Clert Baterbonia plans to bring his remains home to Talacogon, Agusan del Sur following his tragic death in a drowning incident in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Family to bring home remains of Rene Baterbonia following Aurora drowning tragedy

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Family to bring home remains of Rene Baterbonia following Aurora drowning tragedy

Shiela Mae Butlig,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 09, 2026 02:09 PM PHT

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Updated June 09, 2026 05:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

ABSSports

Divine Adili

Rene Bartebonia

Ateneo de Manila University

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Tab Baldwin

Ateneo

Aurora PNP

Philippine National Police

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