MANILA, Philippines — Netizens on X (formerly Twitter) have called on Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and the coaching staff to resign amid the deaths of two of the team’s players.
The calls were made after Eagles prospect Rene Baterbonia and centerman Divine Adili drowned following a team building in Aurora on Monday.
“I’m expecting Coach Tab Baldwin to face the media ASAP and resign. And to face charges. And for the Ateneo Blue Eagles to NOT play this season… Very sad for the team, but much, much sadder for the victims who died and their families,” wrote @peanutbuttercup on X.
Another netizen called on Baldwin to be imprisoned for his actions.
“Tab Baldwin should be in jail, the coaching staff and team management should be fired,” said @noamsssss.
“Ateneo Coach Tab Baldwin should be jailed after the death of his players, the kind of training you did was brutal military training, These kids cannot take the physical training that’s why they died, they were not [military men] they were basketball players,” @Flightnel9 said.
“Tab Baldwin is not the scapegoat anymore. He’s the head coach so he is one of those who planned this training exercise… probably him, the coaching staff and the management of Ateneo should be held accountable,” wrote @parkychanyow.
According to @violarexdev, Ateneo’s statement on the deaths of their athletes was insensitive.
“What do you mean his mother, his family, had not been properly informed before the university made a public statement?! The family deserved to hear it first and be given time to process the loss,” the netizen said.
Baterobonia and Adili were reported to have drowned in Aurora on Monday.
