Ex-Ateneo player Chibueze Ikeh, nanawagan kay Tab Baldwin tungkol sa insidente

Published 11 Jun 2026 at 7:30 PM

by Chris Franco

3 min read

Former Ateneo Blue Eagles center Chibueze Ikeh made a direct appeal to his former head coach, Tab Baldwin, regarding the fatal drowning incident
Ikeh is pushing for full transparency to understand what went wrong on the trip that claimed the life of his friend, Divine Adili, and Rene Baterbonia
The former student-athlete clarified that while outdoor stamina and team-building exercises were normal for the program, they never went swimming
Ikeh emphasized that Coach Tab breaking his silence and explaining the situation would help give much-needed closure to the victims' loved ones

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The tragic loss of two young Ateneo De Manila University student-athletes has left the community in deep mourning, and former players are also demanding answers.

Ex-Ateneo player Chibueze Ikeh, nanawagan kay Tab Baldwin tungkol sa insidente — Photos: UAAP Media | ABS-CBN News on YouTube
Source: Instagram

Chibueze Ikeh, who played as a center for the Ateneo Blue Eagles from 2015 to 2017, spoke to the media to call on his former head coach, Tab Baldwin. Ikeh is urging the coach to step forward and clarify what truly happened during the team-building trip in Dipaculao, where 21-year-old Divine Adili and 19-year-old Rene Baterbonia tragically drowned which has since made headlines.

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Speaking with ABS-CBN News reporter Allison Co, Ikeh shared his grief, and thoughts on the matter.

"Yes, I did. But for now, I would like to wait for them to come and let me know what actually happened," Ikeh expressed heavily. "I had a similar experience with this kind of training that has happened so, I don't have much to say for now, right?" he added.

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When asked about the nature of the training sessions under the basketball program, Ikeh explained that heavy conditioning was a standard part of their preparation. However, he made a clear distinction regarding the activities involved.

"I went through the same training program," he began. When asked if it was difficult, Ikeh said, "It's just a regular training. It's just a training that helps us, plus with our conditioning, stamina, whatever we want to build... to build the team together," Ikeh explained. When also asked if they ever swam during these trips, he replied firmly, "No, we didn't get to swim. It was just jogging and like I said, I'll just wait for the school too."

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Recognizing that Coach Tab is facing immense pressure and carrying a heavy burden over the loss of his players, Ikeh still begged him to break his silence for the sake of everyone who is hurting.

"I mean, I know he's going through a rough time right now, but I would love him to speak up and let people know what happened," Ikeh pleaded. "I mean, that will give a lot of people closure."

As investigations by local authorities and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continue, families, friends, and sports fans alike are waiting for a full accountability report regarding the safety protocols of the fateful athletic trip.

As previously reported by KAMI, former Ateneo athlete Gretchen Ho said the deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili hit very close to home. The broadcaster expressed grief over the tragedy while calling for facts and accountability to emerge through the ongoing investigation. Ho said silence could fuel speculation and false narratives as the public seeks answers about what happened. She also voiced confidence that Ateneo and the investigating bodies will do what is right in addressing the incident.