TAB Baldwin, head coach of Ateneo de Manila University’s (ADMU) men’s basketball team, on Friday expressed profound grief over the drowning of two of his players, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Baldwin had not issued a statement since Monday’s incident, drawing criticism on social media for his silence.
“Yes, as a coach, I lost my boys, too. Never again would I be able to help them develop into the basketball player they wanted to be, or help them grow into the young man they promised they could be. But that’s insignificant compared to what your families are experiencing,” he said in a video released by ADMU.
“As a coach, we are entrusted with the growth of our basketball players, the development of these young men into future professionals,” Baldwin said.
He acknowledged the pain of the families left behind. “But mostly, as a coach, I’m entrusted by you, the parents and the families, with, first and foremost, their well-being. And in this, I feel I’ve failed. And I’m sorry — to the depth of my being, I’m sorry,” he said.
Also on Friday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it expects full compliance and transparency from coaches, players and other individuals who have been summoned to its investigation of the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili in Dipaculao, Aurora, province.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., said the accounts of witnesses are vital in establishing the sequence of events that led to the deaths of the two student-athletes.
“Ateneo is a highly respected institution with strong support system for basketball. And we appreciate its commitment to cooperate in the entire investigation process in the interest of truth,” said Nartatez in a statement.
“We owe the parents and the people a clear explanation of what really happened amid all the speculations that have been circulating on social media,” he added.
Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21, died after they were reportedly swept by strong waves during a team-building activity.
At the House of Representatives, a House resolution has been filed seeking an investigation into the deaths of the student-athletes.
Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, an Ateneo alumnus, filed House Resolution 1112 directing the Committee on Youth and Sports Development to open an inquiry to determine the accountability and liability, and to recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from happening.
Tiangco said the tragedy demands a thorough examination of the systems responsible for ensuring the safety of young athletes.
“Whenever young lives are lost under circumstances that raise serious questions about safety and supervision, we owe it to their families and to the public to find out exactly what happened and who should be held accountable,” Tiangco said.
The inquiry will examine issues such as health and safety standards, emergency response procedures, the availability of medical personnel during training activities and the responsibilities of coaches, trainers, schools and governing bodies.
