PSC supports investigation into tragic deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Baterbonia, Adili

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is backing the ongoing investigation into the tragic drowning incident that took the lives of Ateneo De Manila University student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili

Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21, passed away during a team building on Monday afternoon in Aurora. Incoming rookie Baterbonia was a product or Ateneo de Davao, which he helped steer to the Palarong Pambansa title in 2025, while Nigerian big man Adili was the Blue Eagles' young center.

READ MORE | Ateneo recruit Rene Baterbonia, foreign student athlete Divine Adili die in drowning incident

The government agency said it was creating a sports stakeholders' panel to back the efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in bid to establish a 'clear, accurate, and comprehensive' understanding of the incident.

"As the government agency mandated to provide leadership and direction in sports development and athlete welfare, the PSC is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation," the PSC said in a statement.

PSC added that aside from gathering the facts of the case, it is also examining existing policies and training protocols to strengthen athletic training environments.

"Beyond fact-finding, this multi-stakeholder body-which includes the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP), the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the National Youth Commission (NYC)-will examine existing policies, protocols, and training practices toward resolutions to strengthen safeguards in athletic training environments," PSC added.

PSC stressed it continues to uphold one of its mission in providing safe environment to the athletes while maintaining excellence in sports.

"The goal is not only to understand what happened, but to ensure that lessons learned lead to safer, more responsive systems that protect athletes while sustaining high-performance sport," it said.

"Excellence in sport requires environments that push human potential, but never at the expense of safety."

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News