Ateneo de Davao University, the high school alma mater of Rene Baterbonia, will name one of its covered courts after the late basketball player.
The 6-foot-4 Baterbonia was a standout of the AdDU basketball program. He was Most Valuable Player in the Palarong Pambansa and steered the Davao Eagles to a championship in 2025.
During the Palarong Pambansa in 2026 in his home province Agusan del Sur, Baterbonia capped his Palaro journey with a silver finish next to eventual champions Region IV-A in the secondary boys’ basketball.
Shortly after that, he proceeded to join the Ateneo de Manila University college basketball team.
On that fateful day on June 8, 2026, he and fellow student-athlete Divine Adili drowned while at the team’s team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Baterbonia’s remains were flown back to Mindanao four days later on June 12.
On June 14, AdDU President, Fr. Frankel S. San Juan, SJ, announced that the school will name the covert court inside the AdDU senior high school campus after Baterbonia.
San Juan said the covered court will be called the Rene “Bobet” Baterbonia Covered Court (RBBCC).
San Juan also said images of the late athlete will be placed in the covered court that his family can visit anytime.
From Davao City, Baterbonia’s remains will be brought to his hometown of Talacogon on June 15.
SCHOLARSHIP
Earlier, AdDU said it will provide scholarships to Baterbonia’s six siblings from basic education to college.
“Gusto ko pong i-announce na bunga ng aking kuwentuhan kay mama at papa (Rene’s parents) ngayong hapon na isa po sa mga pangarap ni Bobet ay matutupad — ‘yung pangarap na nagdala sa kaniya sa Maynila at iwan ang kaniyang pamilya rito sa Davao, ang pangarap niya na ang kaniyang mga kapatid, anim na kapatid, ay bibigyan po ng Ateneo de Davao University ng scholarship,” San Juan said after a Mass on June 13.
“Handa rin po ang ibang Ateneo [schools] tulad ng Xavier University sa Cagayan de Oro pero sabi ni mama, dito na lang po sa Davao, mas malapit sa Agusan. Kahit saan po nila gusto pumunta,” he added.
“Ituloy po natin ang pagdarasal sa pamilya ni Bobet para ang pangarap niya para sa kaniyang pamilya ay matupad. Kahit na po sobrang lungkot natin na wala na po siya, pero bubuhayin natin si Bobet sa pamamagitan ng pangarap niya sa kaniyang mga minamahal sa buhay,” the President said.
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