Ateneo maintains 'no weights of any kind' used during conditioning activity in Aurora

Ateneo de Manila University maintained that there were “no weights of any kind used” during a conditioning exercise held by the Blue Eagles in Aurora.

As the university announced that head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo have gone on leave while an investigation into the incident which led to the death of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili is conducted, Ateneo also disclosed details surrounding the tragic event.

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

“Based on what we have gathered from those present, on Monday, 8 June 2026, the team was engaged in a conditioning exercise in knee-deep water near the shoreline when they were suddenly engulfed by massive waves and a powerful rip current,” it said in a statement.

“While most of the players managed to fight their way back to safety, Rene and Divine were pulled away. We state categorically, to protect the dignity of our fallen players, that no weights of any kind were used during this exercise.”

Ateneo said it is also cooperating with national authorities and regulatory bodies regarding the incident.

The Dipaculao, Aurora Police previously said that no weights were used during the incident and the Aurora Provincial Police Office saw no indication of foul play in what happened.

The National Bureau of Investigation, meanwhile, said it will conduct its own probe into the incident.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News