Tab Baldwin attends vigil for Rene Baterbonia, Divine Adili at Ateneo campus

Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin attended the candle light vigil at the campus for his former players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, marking his first appearance since the tragedy at Dipaculao, Aurora.

According to The Guidon, the official publication of the Ateneo, Baldwin was joined by other players of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

In JP Soriano’s report in “24 Oras,” loved ones and several personalities paid their respects during Baterbonia’s last day of wake at Arlington Memorial, before his body will be brought back to Agusan del Sur later.

His family displayed his jerseys donning #2 in his casket, which shows his passion for the sport.

Jess Linus Evangelio was Baterbonia’s first coach in high school. He was not only a mentor to the 19-year-old Palarong Pambansa standout, but also a friend.

“Ayun ang last conversation namin. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Coach, hindi muna ako uuwi ng Davao. After five years na. Dapat mayaman muna ako dito para maahon ko sa kahirapan ang pamilya ko,’” he shared.

(That’s our last conversation. He told me, “Coach, I would not return to Davao. I’ll return after five years. I need to be rich here so I can help my family.)

Baterbonia’s family is still finding answers to his passing. Senators Robin Padilla and Bam Aquino, who both filed resolutions seeking probe on the student-athletes’ death, attended the wake.

Former Ateneo bigman Poy Erram also attended Baterbonia’s wake.

Baterbonia family’s lawyers said that some members of the Ateneo Blue Eagles coaching staff and assistant coaches already paid their respects. But Baldwin has yet to appear to the family, they added.

Baterbonia hails from Barangay San Nicolas in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. Standing 6’4’’, he was crucial to Davao Region gold medal bid in the Palarong Pambansa 2025 and was awarded “Most Valuable Player.”

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/basketball/990692/who-was-rene-baterbonia-rising-basketball-star-who-passed-in-drowning-incident/story/

“Sobrang bait na bata. Kahit sinong player, wala siyang kaaway. Sa loob ng court, sinusuntok siya, pero siya pa ang nagso-sorry. Sobrang humble,” said Evangelio.

(He’s such a kind boy. He never had any beef with any player. Inside the court, even though he’s hit, he’s still the one apologizing. He’s very humble.)

In his last Palarong Pambansa in May, the “Mr. MVP” of Davao Region remained humble.

“Siyempre masaya, thankful dahil maraming taong sumusuporta sa akin. Siyempre kailangan pa namin mag-prepare para sa bukas na laro,” said Baterbonia in a past interview.

(Of course, I’m happy and thankful that many people are supporting me. We still need to prepare for tomorrow’s game.)

If he has a number one supporter, that would be his mom Rovelyn. Rovelyn said that his late son is not just dreaming for himself, but also for their family who was a 4Ps beneficiary until 2023.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/991103/dswd-rene-baterbonia-4ps-child-ateneo/story/

Baterbonia never forgot where he started from as he still helps his former elementary school during Brigada Eskwela.

Meanwhile, some Nigerian basketball players also attended the wake of Adili. Among them is former Ateneo player Chibueze Ikeh.

“I went through the same training program… It was okay, it was just, I mean like I said, it was just an unfortunate incident,” he said.

But just like the families of Baterbonia and Adili, Ikeh is hoping that Baldwin would finally speak up.

“I would love for him to speak up and let the people know what happened. I mean, this would give a lot of people closure,” he said. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA News