The remains of Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie basketball player Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia arrived in his hometown of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, early Tuesday morning. Baterbonia, 18, died following a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, which also claimed the life of his teammate, Divine Adili. A wake is scheduled at the town’s municipal gymnasium through June 23.
A community pays its respects
Baterbonia’s remains arrived at 1 a.m. on Tuesday after a 17-hour journey from Davao City, a trip that typically takes seven hours. According to reporting by Chris V. Panganiban, the funeral convoy was delayed as residents lined the roadsides throughout the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Agusan del Sur to honor the athlete. In San Francisco town, the procession received a water salute from two fire trucks around 11 p.m. Monday. By 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, at least 2,000 people had visited the wake at the Talacogon evacuation center and gymnasium.
The rise of a young athlete
Baterbonia’s path to the Ateneo Blue Eagles was built on years of local competition in Mindanao. According to Arfylle Goloran, a journalist and Talacogon native, Baterbonia was influenced by his father, “Dodoy,” a known sharpshooter in the Mayor’s Cup Summer Basketball League. Baterbonia played alongside his older brother, Rubeyan, in the under-18 category of the same tournament. His career included participating in the Governor’s Cup at age 15 and representing his school in regional tournaments under the Department of Education.
What may happen next
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili remain under scrutiny. Former Ateneo players have visited the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as part of an ongoing probe into the drowning incident. Additionally, the university’s leadership has addressed the tragedy; the Ateneo head has accepted the resignation of coach Tab Baldwin. Further updates on the investigation are likely to emerge as the CIDG continues its inquiry, and the university may provide additional information as the legal and administrative processes move forward.
