RENE Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia was laid to rest at the Barangay Labnig Memorial Cemetery in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, on Wednesday.
Following the requiem Mass for Baterbonia, people flocked the roads to pay their respects to the fallen student-athlete while he was transported to the cemetery.
People likewise crowded the cemetery to see Baterbonia one last time and show support to his grieving family.
A promising cager, Baterbonia, 18, drowned in a team-building activity of the Ateneo de Manila men’s basketball team in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.
Baterbonia’s Nigerian teammate Divine Adili, 21, suffered the same fate. Details of his burial in Nigeria have yet to be announced.
Baterbonia last played for the Ateneo de Davao Senior High School basketball team before committing to the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles with a dream to play in the UAAP.
The Palarong Pambansa secondary boys basketball final between Davao Region and Calabarzon turned out to be Baterbonia’s last competitive game.
Davao relinquished the crown to Calabarzon, 62-79, at the EOC Basketball Court Gym in Prosperidad.
Outside the gymnasium, which was one of the stops during Baterbonia’s transfer from Davao to Talacogon, his mother, Rovelyn, addressed the crowd showing support for her son and her family.
“Losing a child is not easy, but you have shown me that I must continue to stand strong here for my six other children,” said Rovelyn
“It is painful, but I hope the Lord will help me gradually accept it. And I also hope Bobet will help me find the strength to accept that he is now at rest.”
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as well as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have been probing the said Ateneo team-building activity in Aurora.
Members of the Ateneo men’s basketball team have been subpoenaed to share their accounts of what transpired during the activity.
Head coach Tab Baldwin was the latest to appear before the NBI on Tuesday.
