The mother of Ateneo Blue Eagles recruit Rene Baterbonia mourned her son’s death and sought answers following his drowning during a team-building activity in Aurora Province.
Rene, a 19-year-old student-athlete, recently played in the Palarong Pambansa finals and was set to suit up for Ateneo in UAAP Season 89 this year.
A product of Ateneo de Davao, Rene led the Davao Region to the boys’ basketball gold medal at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Reports said the drowning incident happened less than a week after he moved to Ateneo’s campus in Katipunan, Quezon City.
Police said that, based on their initial findings, Rene and his companion, fellow student athlete Divine Adili, were swimming at a beach in Dipaculao, Aurora, on Monday afternoon when they were swept into deeper waters by strong currents.
They were brought to a medical facility but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Sports publication Spin.ph reported that Ateneo players, coaches, and staff arrived in Aurora on Monday for a week-long team-building activity. They were supposed to stay until Sunday, June 14.
The publication said the activity had been an annual exercise since American-New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin took over as head coach of the team.
The team has reportedly cut its activity short and is on its way back to Manila following the incident.
Rene’s mother, Rovelyn Bartebonia, took to social media to lament her son’s death, saying she would not have allowed him to go if the activity was a “bootcamp” with “military-like” training.
“Kung sinabi lang nila na may ganyan na training sa anak ko, hindi na ako papayag. Hindi kasi nila sinabi sa amin na may ganyan. Saan na ba anak ko ngayon,” she wrote on Facebook, reacting to a post which featured a video of former Blue Eagle and Philippine Basketball Association player Mike Nieto sharing “bootcamp” activity experiences with Baldwin.
The video was part of an interview with Nieto in the 19th episode of the “Balyahan With GB and PDO” podcast, hosted by former player Ranidel De Ocampo and stand-up comedian GB Labrador.
Part of the interview resurfaced online following the drowning incident, in which Nieto shared experiences of doing swimming and sand exercises and early morning drills under Baldwin.
“My child is not a soldier, yet they are treating him like one. Basketball is my child’s talent, not being a soldier,” Rovelyn said in another post, as translated into English.
“What kind of nonsense is this? My child isn’t a soldier. His training should be on the basketball court, not out at sea,” she wrote in another post, as translated into English.
Rovelyn also shared similar sentiments in a video that circulated online.
“Ang masasabi ko lang: Bakit? Kung sinama mo kami sa usapan at sinabihan mo kami na magkakaroon ng ganitong training, kahit maralita lang kami, hindi ko na sana pinayagan ang anak ko na sumama diyan,” she said, as translated into Filipino.
INA NG NAS@WING STUDENT-ATHLETE, HUMINGI NG PALIWANAG SA ATENEO DE MANILA
Sobrang sakit para kay Rovelyn Baterbonia ang biglang pagkam@tay ng kanyang anak na si Rene Baterbonia, isang bagong recruit ng Ateneo de Manila University basketball team na diumano’y nalunod kasama ang… pic.twitter.com/S3XENWkVII
— Pilipinas Today (@PilipinasToday_) June 9, 2026
Rovelyn also reacted to claims that Rene and Divine wore “ankle weights” while swimming, which allegedly caused them to drown.
“Why did they put them through something like that and then make them swim? Where were their minds? Even those who aren’t carrying anything would struggle to swim, and they clearly didn’t think about what could happen,” she wrote in a post.
The police have appealed to the public to refrain from speculation and allow them to complete the investigation.
Rovelyn said that they have not yet seen Rene’s body, even “private” photos or videos of it.
“It’s difficult when you’re poor; you can’t easily travel wherever you need to. Where should I go, and who can I turn to so that I can finally get some answers?” she said, as translated into English, in response to a statement of the Ateneo de Davao Senior High School Sports Office.
“Rene was more than a student-athlete. He was a brother, a teammate, a friend, and an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. On the basketball court, he played with determination, discipline, and excellence. Off the court, he carried himself with humility, kindness, and a gentle spirit that touched the lives of many,” the office said in a tribute.
“We will forever remember Rene as our Gentle Giant—a young man whose presence brought strength, comfort, and joy to those around him. He was truly an MVP on and off the court, not because of the points he scored or the games he won, but because of the character he displayed, the respect he showed, and the love he shared with others,” it added.
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Percival Pineda, acting provincial director of the Aurora Police Provincial Office, said there is no indication of foul play in the student-athletes’ deaths.
“Based po sa salaysay ng ating mga nakausap, meron po silang activity na kung saan lumakad po ang mga players sa tabing dagat,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday, June 9.
The activity involved roughly 20 team members, including players and the coaching staff.
“Nasa hanggang hita po ang lalim ng tubig, at bigla na lang po silang napunta sa malalim na parte. ‘Yung part po ng nilalakaran nila ay may malalim na bahagi, at doon nga po, bigla silang tinangay ng current papunta sa mas malalim na bahagi ng dagat,” Pineda said.
“May mga kasama po sila na tumulong, at meron din pong lifeguard, pero sa kasamaang-palad, nasawi nga po ang dalawa,” he added.
Pineda said it was not the first time the group had held activities at the resort, adding they were familiar with the sea conditions.
Aurora Provincial Police Public Information Chief Major Lorena Bautista also said it was not the first drowning incident in the area this year.
