Chot Reyes calls for healing, end to speculations following Rene Baterbonia, Divine Adili deaths

Chot Reyes called for healing and for the public to stop the speculations following the deaths of Ateneo De Manila University basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

The legendary basketball coach appeared on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Wednesday and shared his thoughts on the issue.

“Ang panawagan ko is healing,” Reyes said.

“Ang panawagan ko is to stop all the baseless speculations. Some people are just speculating out of, I don’t know, ignorance, not knowing really what the whole issue is,” he added.

Reyes noted that “some people are viciously spreading falsehoods.”

“Two families were aggrieved. We’ve lost two members of our community. So find ways to heal, not only for the families but for everybody.”

Reyes also commiserates with the players receiving death threats and bashing.

“Why? What’s it for?” he said. “I’m all for finding truth, seeking justice, but not at the expense naman.”

According to Reyes, although Ateneo has its own methodologies, the institution should have shown accountability right away.

“In these situations, what the public or what the aggrieved party needs is a face, a human face right away. Whether that’s whoever, the president, or the coach, doesn’t matter. You show a human face right away, and I think that should have been done right away,” Reyes said.

Reyes also extended his deepest sympathies to the families of Rene and Divine, saying he was “filled with deep sadness” upon learning about their deaths.

Per Reyes, he knew Divine personally although they were not close, and that they would see each other on the Ateneo court and in the weights room.

“He always has a very cheerful greeting for me,” Reyes said.

Baterbonia and Adili lost their lives in a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday, June 8.

Baterbonia was laid to rest in his hometown in Talacogon, Agusan Del Sur on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Adili’s remains have arrived in the UAE before traveling home to Nigeria.

Investigations into their deaths are ongoing and are being conducted by government agencies and Ateneo.

On Tuesday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) investigators conducted a full reconstruction of the drowning incident that claimed the lives of Baterbonia and Adili.

Former ADMU men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin also appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday in connection with the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Last week, he attended the investigation of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

—Nika Roque/CDC, GMA News