UAAP says no sanctions on Ateneo yet as team-building tragedy investigations are ongoing
The University Athletic Association of the Philippines is deferring its decision on placing sanctions against Ateneo de Manila University to await official investigation findings regarding a drowning incident that resulted in the deaths of the school's basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
In a statement released Sunday, June 14, the UAAP reiterated its earlier position, stating it "will fully take into account" the results of parallel investigations conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Commission on Higher Education, and ADMU.
"The UAAP is closely following all developments surrounding this tragic incident and carefully reviewing the findings of the ongoing investigations as they come," the statement read.
Once the probes are completed, the UAAP will transmit the findings to its seven member schools "for a full and fair review."
According to the UAAP website, the organization currently has eight member schools, including ADMU: Adamson University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, National University, University of the East, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas.
UAAP assured sanctions would be enforced if the official investigations found "breaches of established protocols, laws, and regulations, provided these sanctions are established through due process and in accordance with governance and disciplinary procedures."
The organization also pledged to "review and, if needed, revise existing rules and policies" to reinforce accountability, further protect the welfare of student-athletes, and maintain "the highest standards of safety."
In addition, the UAAP assured expanded access to support services, such as mental health resources and community-building programs, for student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
"As a community of educational institutions, we are committed to learning from this tragedy and working together to strengthen safeguards that protect our student-athletes both on and off the field of play," the statement continued.
While the UAAP expressed its grief for the passing of Baterbonia and Adili, and extended its condolences to their families, teammates, coaches, and the entire Ateneo community, it also urged the concerned agencies and institutions to "conduct a speedy and thorough investigation in order to put all speculations to rest."
On the day of the tragic incident, ADMU released a statement informing the public that Baterbonia and Adili passed away after drowning in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8 during a team-building activity in Aurora.
The university has since said it is conducting its own comprehensive fact-finding inquiry into the tragedy and is "providing support to the families of Rene and Divine, as well as to their teammates and members of the Ateneo community affected by this tragedy."
ADMU president Fr. Roberto Yap also said Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin was asked to "refrain from making public statements" about the incident.
But on June 12, through a video statement, Baldwin offered an apology to the Baterbonia and Adili families, both of whom said an apology was not enough.
Past UAAP sanctions on university members
In earlier seasons, the athletic organization carried out several suspensions on member schools and individuals for various offenses.
In an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel, veteran sports analyst and broadcaster Quinito Henson enumerated the incidents.
"The umbrella organization, UAAP, when they said that there shouldn't be any suspension, I am reminded of what happened in 1994 to Adamson when they played Marlou Aquino, an ineligible player because of academics," he said.
In 1994, Adamson University's Marlou Aquino continued to play for the school's Soaring Falcons despite academic deficiencies. UAAP suspended the university for one season.
Although the athletic organization does not impose a universal benchmark for academics, it does require student-athletes to meet the academic standards of their respective universities. Aquino, who eventually became a three-time Philippine Basketball Association champion, failing to meet Adamson's academic parameters made him ineligible to play for the school at UAAP games.
The next sanction was placed on De La Salle University in 2006.
"De La Salle came out in the open and said, 'We made a mistake. We played two ineligible players. We want to be able to make a clean breast of it," Henson further recalled.
According to him, the UAAP did not investigate the matter and went on to suspend the university for one season. But instead of penalizing only its basketball team, the UAAP suspended all DLSU teams from all league events. Based on information on the UAAP website, the organization covers 21 sports, including taekwondo, volleyball, badminton, swimming, tennis, cheer dance, football, and judo.
"Then, also, you remember during the pandemic, Coach Aldin Ayo was given a suspension indefinitely for bringing his players over to a training camp in Sorsogon..." Henson said.
In 2020, UAAP banned indefinitely former University of Santo Tomas basketball head coach Aldin Ayo from all UAAP events and league-sanctioned activities.
Per ESPN, the ban came after the conclusion of an investigation into the training bubble Ayo organized for his players in Capuy, Sorsogon during the pandemic. In its statement, the UAAP Board of Trustees accused Ayo of "endangering the health and well-being of the student athletes under his charge."
