A reigning Palarong Pambansa MVP who had only recently committed to the Blue Eagles and the team’s towering import from last UAAP season are among the dead in a drowning that struck Ateneo de Manila University’s basketball program over the weekend.
The university said Monday that Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili, both members of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team, died in the incident, which it said took place during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on the afternoon of June 8, 2026.
“It is with profound sadness that Ateneo de Manila University confirms the passing of two student-athletes of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team, Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili, following a drowning incident that occurred during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on the afternoon of June 8, 2026,” the school said in its statement.
Baterbonia, a 19-year-old from Talacogon in Agusan del Sur, had been one of the most coveted high school prospects of the recruiting cycle. He committed to Ateneo last February after a standout run with Ateneo de Davao, where, according to Tiebreaker Times, he captured MVP honors at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa and steered the Davao Region to its first secondary boys’ basketball gold in Laoag City. SPIN.ph reported he followed that with a silver-medal finish in his home province at this year’s edition of the national games. He also figured in the Philippine squad that won the basketball title at the 14th ASEAN School Games in Brunei.
Adili, 21, anchored the Ateneo frontcourt as the team’s foreign student-athlete during UAAP Season 88. Per The Game, the center logged averages of roughly 8.4 points and 8.3 rebounds across 11 elimination-round appearances despite playing through a back injury.
In its message, the school turned to the people closest to the two players. “The entire Ateneo community mourns the loss of Rene and Divine. The University extends its heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, teammates, coaches, and loved ones. We ask the community to keep them in their prayers during this most difficult time,” it said.
The administration added that it had put assistance in place for the bereaved households as well as for the squad and others within the school shaken by the deaths, and it asked the public to give those mourning room to grieve privately.
The two had been expected to share the floor for Ateneo in the coming UAAP Season 89, with Baterbonia tabbed to reinforce a frontline that included Adili.
