Rene Baterbonia’s high school coach pays tribute as cager’s remains were brought to his hometown
- Coach Jess Evangelio paid an emotional tribute to his former player Rene Baterbonia, describing him as a genuinely good person who inspired many lives
- The longtime Ateneo de Davao coach said the overwhelming love being shown to Baterbonia reflects the kind of life he lived
- Baterbonia’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief from teammates, coaches, classmates, and supporters across the country
- Tributes continue to pour in for the young athlete as the Philippine basketball community mourns the loss of both Baterbonia and fellow Ateneo player Divine Adili
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Coach Jess Evangelio has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Rene Baterbonia after the cager’s remains were brought to his hometown in Agusan del Sur, reflecting on the impact the young athlete had on the people around him during his life.
Source: Facebook
Evangelio, who coached Baterbonia during his high school years at Ateneo de Davao University, shared an emotional message on social media as family, friends, teammates, and supporters continue to mourn the loss of the promising basketball player.
In his post, Evangelio spoke about the tremendous love being shown to Baterbonia following his passing and said it was a reflection of the kind of person he was.
“Hay Rene, dami talagang nagmamahal sa’yo. Halos lahat ng lugar na nadaanan mo ay ipinagdiriwang ka hindi dahil sa pagpanaw mo, kundi dahil sa napakagandang mga alaalang iniwan mo habang nabubuhay ka,” he wrote.
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The veteran coach emphasized that Baterbonia was much more than a talented student-athlete, describing him as someone whose kindness and character touched many lives.
“Hindi ka lang isang student-athlete. Isa kang tunay na mabuting tao. At hindi ako magsasawang ikuwento sa buong mundo kung gaano ka kabuti, kung paano mo pinasaya at binigyang-inspirasyon ang napakaraming tao,” Evangelio added.
According to the coach, the public’s response to Baterbonia’s passing demonstrates the deep respect and affection people had for him.
“Makikita sa pagmamahal ng mga tao kung anong klaseng buhay ang nabuhay mo. Isang buhay na puno ng kabutihan, respeto, at pagmamalasakit sa iba,” he said.
Evangelio concluded his message by thanking his former player for the memories, lessons, and inspiration he left behind.
“Love na love ka namin, MVP. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng alaala, aral, at inspirasyong iniwan mo sa amin. Habang buhay kang mananatili sa puso namin.”
Baterbonia, 19, was one of two Ateneo de Manila University basketball players who died during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora. The other victim was Nigerian student-athlete Divine Adili, 21.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves throughout the Philippine basketball community, particularly among those who witnessed Baterbonia’s rise as one of the country’s most promising young players.
The deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili have profoundly impacted the Philippine basketball community, prompting an overwhelming wave of tributes from players, coaches, alumni, students, and fans both in the Philippines and overseas. Alongside the expressions of grief, many sectors have also urged authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine exactly what happened and identify measures that could help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Earlier, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) released an official statement reiterating its commitment to pursuing truth, accountability, and justice following the deaths of Ateneo basketball players Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili during the team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora. The league emphasized that it would closely review the findings of ongoing investigations and take appropriate action based on the results.
Previously, Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo formally stepped down from their positions. The development was confirmed during a June 15, 2026 press conference by Ateneo President Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, who announced that the university had accepted their resignations amid the continuing efforts to address the aftermath of the tragedy.
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