Coach Jess Evangelio honors late Ateneo player Rene Baterbonia with his dream jersey
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Coach Jess Evangelio just gave the late Ateneo recruit Rene Baterbonia his dream jersey.
Coach Jess Evangelio, the former mentor of the late Ateneo de Manila University rookie Rene Clert Baterbonia, recently touched hearts with a heartfelt gesture in honor of Rene.
In a Facebook post, Coach Jess shared a photo of an Ateneo de Manila jersey hanging beside Rene's wake.
"Reneeee!!! Get up there. You finally have your Ateneo de Manila jersey that you are so excited to wear," he said, according to a Google translation.
"You'll have your first ADMU jersey framed because it's very special for you," he continued.
Coach Jess shared that Rene would have been very happy, as he had long dreamed of owning the jersey.
"It's painful to think that you already have the jersey that you dream of, but you're not here anymore to wear and show it to everyone," he expressed.
The basketball community mourned the loss of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who died in a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Rene was a rising star who had yet to make his UAAP debut. He gained national recognition through the Palarong Pambansa.
Meanwhile, Divine was known as “The Big Man,” standing at 6-foot-10 and becoming one of the most recognizable young centers in Philippine collegiate basketball.
RELATED GALLERY: In Memoriam: Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia's basketball journeys
