(Updated 3:42 p.m.) Sanctions previously imposed by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas have been cited in online discussions comparing how the league has handled past controversies with the current Ateneo de Manila University’s drowning incident.
The online discourse comes after UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag said the league has yet to decide on sanctions following the deaths of Ateneo Blue Eagles players Rene Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili, who drowned during a school-sanctioned team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
READ: ‘My child isn’t a soldier’: Mother of Ateneo recruit Rene Baterbonia seeks answers after son’s drowning | Past accounts of Ateneo players’ ‘military-style’ training resurface amid drowning case
He added that the UAAP basketball season has yet to begin, making discussion of preventive suspension for any team or individual premature pending ongoing investigations.
“As for preventive suspension, I know this may sound [cliche], but technically there is nothing to suspend immediately at this point. Right now, basketball season has not started, so there’s nothing to suspend initially,” Saguisag was quoted as saying.
“So whatever preventive suspension may be considered, I don’t know whether or not the institution involved will do that. If it happens, it would be based on their prerogative. As far as we’re concerned, the season, the basketball season for that matter, has not begun,” he added.
Online posts have drawn parallels between earlier UAAP disciplinary decisions and renewed calls for accountability following the Ateneo drowning incident, even as details of the case continue to be discussed within different forums.
La Salle eligibility case: School-wide suspension in 2006
One of the most significant sanctions in UAAP history came in 2006, when DLSU was suspended for an entire season following eligibility violations involving two men’s basketball players, Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian, who were found to have used spurious documents during the 2003-2004 season.
The UAAP Board’s decision included a season-long suspension across all sports, as well as forfeiture of previous wins and championships during the affected period.
UST and Aldin Ayo: COVID-19 bubble controversy
In 2020, the UST’s men’s basketball program came under scrutiny after reports that it conducted training activities in Sorsogon during COVID-19 restrictions.
Then-head coach Aldin Ayo resigned amid the controversy, and the UAAP later imposed an indefinite ban on him for violations of health protocols and endangerment of student-athletes during the public health emergency.
The sanction stood even after his resignation.
Online comparisons and reactions
Following the Ateneo incident, social media users have revisited these past UAAP decisions, drawing comparisons on how the league has exercised disciplinary action in different cases.
Some online users pointed to the La Salle suspension and UST bubble controversy as precedents for strong league intervention, with one post saying:
“With Aldin Ayo, napakabilis ng UAAP to decide and ban him indefinitely. Itong si Tab Baldwin, may namatay na 2 players, sasabihin niyong up to Ateneo na iyan kung parurusahan nila?!”
Another X (formerly Twitter) user questioned differences in how sanctions were imposed and sustained.
“Mind you, the police eventually cleared Aldin Ayo BUT UAAP kept his sanction,” an X user wrote.
A separate post by journalist Llanesca Panti referenced the UST bubble controversy, stating:
“Some context: The UAAP Board imposed a UAAP LIFETIME BAN on then UST Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo for violating COVID-19 restrictions since Ayo set up a Sorsogon bubble for the training of the basketball team. UAAP Board argued Ayo exposed the team to a life-threatening situation,” she wrote.
The journalist cited that nobody died or were infected by COVID-19 due to the bubble.
“Although the school was crucified for supposed ‘mamantikang pagkain’ it served to its players. That UST team was abruptly dissolved; players quickly transferred to other schools the moment Ayo resigned,” Panti said.
“Why is this important? Given such precedent, a UAAP lifetime ban on Ateneo Coach Tab Baldwin should not be far fetched, if not expected, given that two players DIED under his watch during an ongoing training session,” she continued.
Others have called on the UAAP to take stronger action, citing past league precedents as basis for similar disciplinary measures in the current situation. Some also called for the banning of Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin.
READ: Calls for accountability grow as Tab Baldwin remains silent on Ateneo drowning incident
“May nawalang buhay tapos suspension lang? lalo if proven guilty that man deserve a heavier punishment, maawa naman kayo sa mga bata at sa naiwan nilang pamilya,” an X user wrote.
“Sorry not sorry, pero ban him!” one said.
“Ang dali nyong magsuspend at magtanggal ng ibang coach noon pero itong may death involved possible suspension ???” another commented.
“Hindi ko gets. 4 players drowned, 2 died. Tapos it’s up to the school to suspend Tab? Tapos porket hindi pa start ng basketball season, wala ring suspension sa team?” an X user asked.
An online user who identified herself as a Blue Eagle fan, meanwhile, defended the UAAP’s position, saying the league is not directly involved in the activity.
What we know so far
Ateneo de Manila University confirmed the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili on Monday evening, June 8.
In a separate update on Tuesday, June 9, the university called for privacy as its community mourn the passing of the two players. It also said it is providing support to the families of Baterbonia and Adili, as well as to their teammates and members of the Ateneo community affected by the tragedy.
Update on the passing of Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia
Tuesday, 9 June 2026https://t.co/IC5lQ133oY pic.twitter.com/NsH88rA0Vm
— Ateneo de Manila University (@ateneodemanilau) June 9, 2026
The mother of Baterbonia, Rovelyn, earlier sought answers regarding the sudden deaths, saying they were not immediately informed of the circumstances, including the “training.” The family’s legal counsel said they would seek for an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against Baldwin, an American-New Zealand national.
On the other hand, the family of Adili has requested an autopsy before his remains are repatriated to his home country, Nigeria, according to the Embassy of Nigeria in Manila.
Meanwhile, amid calls for accountability on Ateneo and its coaching team, Baldwin was issued a show-cause order by the Department of Labor and Employment.
The National Bureau of Investigation is also set to probe the drowning incident, while calls have been made for the Senate to conduct its own investigation.
In a statement on Thursday, June 11, Ateneo once again addressed the drowning incident.
It said that based on information gathered from those present in Aurora, 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.”
“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,” it said.
Furthermore, the university said its Board of Trustees has mandated a “thorough fact-finding inquiry” into the tragedy, adding that Baldwin and Team Manager Christopher “Epok” Quimpo have gone on leave for the duration of the inquiry.
“This inquiry will exhaustively examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, reconstruct a transparent timeline, review all athletic protocols, and interview every individual present,” it said.
—Rosette Adel
