From left: A composite photo of Rene Baterbonia, Tab Baldwin and Divine Adili. ARCHIVE

Former Ateneo de Manila University basketball players Shaun Ildefonso and Anton Asistio have described the team's past off-campus training camps under coach Tab Baldwin as physically punishing, revealing predawn wake-up calls, military-style beach drills, ocean challenges and survival-type exercises in Aurora province. Their remarks, originally made in an episode of the Sports Plus podcast, resurfaced and quickly went viral following the deaths of Ateneo basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who drowned during a team conditioning activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday (June 8). The renewed attention comes as authorities widen their investigation into the tragedy, Ateneo launches an independent fact-finding inquiry, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) summons Baldwin over his work permit and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seeks an immigration lookout bulletin order against several persons of interest.

‘Brutal' training

In the podcast, Ildefonso and Asistio recalled attending a training camp in Baler that focused more on physical conditioning than basketball. “Grabe siya magpatraining. Grabe talaga (His training sessions were extremely intense. Really intense),” Ildefonso said. “Patayan (It felt brutal),” Asistio added. “Patayan talaga (It was absolutely brutal),” Ildefonso agreed. Ildefonso said he arrived at Ateneo with confidence after a successful high school basketball career but was shocked by the intensity of Baldwin's program. “Coming from high school, I was confident because I was one of the main guys. Then coach arrived during my first year in Ateneo. It was really difficult,” he said in Filipino. The former player described a boot-camp-like experience in Baler where athletes were awakened before dawn. “We went to Baler. It was like a boot camp. There was no basketball. We were just on the beachfront,” Ildefonso said. “Imagine, on my first night there, there was a siren at 4am.” Asistio recalled the use of a megaphone. “There was a megaphone and a siren because you really had to wake up,” Ildefonso said. “You go to the beach and do push-ups. It was really like being a soldier.” The training reportedly included relay exercises into rough waters, beach runs and endurance challenges. “In Baler, the waves are strong. We had relay challenges into the water and jogging sessions,” Ildefonso said. When asked whether anyone had nearly drowned during the activities, he replied: “Almost. Jiboy Pabilonia.” The former players also recalled a cumulative running challenge. “On the first day, you only run two kilometers. If you fail to meet the required time, you add another kilometer the next day. It went on for five days. It was like Survivor,” Ildefonso said. Asistio added that players were also responsible for preparing their own meals after training. “We cooked our own food. The coaches had a buffet. We were already exhausted and still had to cook,” he said.

Deaths trigger scrutiny

The resurfaced interview comes as investigators seek to determine what led to the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili during a team activity in Aurora. The two players drowned while participating in what police described as a training exercise along the shoreline approximately 300 meters from a beach resort in Dipaculao. The tragedy has sparked questions about the nature of the activity, the level of supervision provided and whether proper safety protocols were in place. On Thursday (June 11), Ateneo announced that Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo had gone on leave while the university conducts an independent investigation. In a statement signed by university president Roberto Yap, the school said the decision was intended to protect the integrity of the probe. “To preserve the total integrity, independence, and fairness of this investigation—and to ensure all participants can cooperate freely without any actual or perceived pressure,” the statement said. The university said Baldwin and Quimpo would remain on leave throughout the inquiry. “A loss of this magnitude demands absolute accountability, clarity, and an unyielding review of the safety and welfare of our community,” Ateneo said. The Board of Trustees has ordered a comprehensive fact-finding investigation that will reconstruct the timeline of events, review athletic protocols and interview everyone present during the activity. The school also sought to address online speculation that weights were attached to the players. “Based on what we have gathered from those present, on Monday, 8 June 2026, the team was engaged in a conditioning exercise in knee-deep water near the shoreline when they were suddenly engulfed by massive waves and a powerful rip current,” Ateneo said. “While most of the players managed to fight their way back to safety, Rene and Divine were pulled away.” The university added: “We state categorically, to protect the dignity of our fallen players, that no weights of any kind were used during this exercise.”

DOLE summons Baldwin

The controversy widened further after Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino ordered Baldwin to appear before DOLE on Monday (June 15). Tolentino said Baldwin has been directed to present proof of a valid Alien Employment Permit (AEP) and explain the circumstances surrounding the Aurora activity. “I just issued a subpoena. On Monday at 10am, I would like in my presence coach Tab Baldwin of Ateneo,” Tolentino said during a press conference on Thursday. According to Tolentino, Baldwin must submit his employment contract with Ateneo, documentation showing that his AEP covers the full scope of his coaching duties, compliance records with DOLE reporting requirements and a written explanation detailing the June 8 activity, including supervision arrangements and safety measures. “If he is compliant, then there is nothing to fear. If he is not, then this Department will act accordingly,” Tolentino said. “This is not about persecution. This is about the rule of law.” The labor chief warned that possible consequences could include suspension or cancellation of Baldwin’s AEP, referral to the Bureau of Immigration for possible deportation proceedings, penalties against Ateneo and potential labor-related charges if violations are found.

CIDG seeks lookout order

Meanwhile, the CIDG confirmed it has requested an immigration lookout bulletin order from the Department of Justice against several persons of interest connected to the case. CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said one of the individuals covered by the request is a foreign national. “We requested one from the Department of Justice to prevent certain persons of interest from leaving the country. One of them is a foreign national,” Morico said during a briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday. While Morico declined to identify the individuals involved, the request came hours after legal counsel for Baterbonia’s family publicly urged the DOJ to issue a lookout order against Baldwin. “Ateneo is Ateneo. They have money. They have the capability to travel abroad,” Morico said. The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier confirmed that the CIDG had begun a formal investigation and subpoenaed members of the coaching staff and players who participated in the activity. Authorities are also examining possible violations of the Philippines’ Anti-Hazing law. Despite the ongoing investigation, Morico clarified that Baldwin is not currently considered a fugitive. “Well, right now, he is not a fugitive from justice. So, I cannot say that we are monitoring him,” he said.

Baterbonia's body headed home

As investigations continue, family, friends and teammates are preparing to bid farewell to Baterbonia. As of Thursday night (June 11), the body of the Ateneo player was being transported to Davao City, where it will lie in state for a three-day vigil. After the wake in Davao City, Baterbonia will be brought to his hometown of Talacogon for final funeral rites and burial. PIA/CAM/ICA/Expat Media
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