MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin said he's lost loved ones before, but none of that or anything in his life could prepare him for the tragic passing of his players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Baterbonia, 19, Adili, 21, drowned during what Baldwin described as a 'routine training run' activity in a sea last Monday in Dipaculao, Aurora.
"As badly as I feel, I can't begin to understand or guess what the families feel. I've lost my best friend, I've lost my closest brother, but not on these kinds of tragic circumstances so I know loss but I don't think I know it to this degree," said Baldwin in an interview with Powcast Sports.
"I think there are a lot of people aren't doing particularly well. Nothing ever happened in my life that prepared me for this. When I look at our players, they're so much younger. I feel horrible for them and what they experienced but life goes on you have to cope, you have to try. You have to get up in the morning and help your family and be there for them but nothing is easy."
Baldwin, 68, said his circle have thrown support for him in this difficult time but he insisted that all concerns should be directed to the bereaved families of Baterbonia and Adili.
"There's a tremendous amount of support coming friends and people who care about the team but I keep saying it's not about me," said Baldwin.
"It should be about the players, what can we do to bring comfort to the family, what we can do tangibly bring comfort to the family and how do we shape our prayers to the family."
Baldwin, who apologized and said that he failed as a leader, coach, and friend to his fallen players in a recorded video posted by Ateneo de Manila University Friday, doesn't exactly know what he's feeling right now.
"There's moments of clarity where I feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel and there's time where's there's not, there's just darkness. I just hope everybody to pray for the boys and pray for the families."
Baldwin shared that Ateneo has offered him and the rest of the Blue Eagles counselors to help them deal with the tragic incident.
"The university has offered us guidance counselors grief counselors. We've been able to speak with them... we're all trying to cope."
