Who Were Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili? Remembering the Two Ateneo Players

(SPOT.ph) Most people who don't follow local school basketball would first encounter the names Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili through the worst possible news.

On June 8, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) confirmed that Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21, died following a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora. Both were members of the Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball program.

Hundreds of tributes have since poured in from teammates, coaches, schools, and sports organizations, remembering not just how they played but who they were to those around them. Clearly, the two athletes' brief time with Ateneo was only one part of a much longer story.

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For Rene Clert Baterbonia, the dream was clear even before the road to it would show itself.

He had always wanted to study at ADMU, but he was coming from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, not exactly a popular jump off point for Loyola Heights recruits. According to SunStar, Rene was one of seven children of Rovelyn and Rene Baterbonia, who sold fish in the market to support the family.

Basketball was not in the original plan, either. Baterbonia first played soccer, then moved to basketball as he grew taller, committing fully to the sport at around 15 years old. He was known as “Bobet” among his circles.

“’Yung sports ko dati, soccer ako… tapos dream school ko talaga Ateneo,” Baterbonia told GMA News. “Hindi ko akalain na makakamit ko pala ’yun, tapos iba na ’yung sports ko.”

In 2025, Baterbonia helped Davao Region win its first-ever Palarong Pambansa boys' basketball championship. He was named the tournament's MVP. He would later represent the Philippines at the 14th ASEAN School Games in Brunei, where the national team won gold. By then, he had become one of the most closely watched high school recruits.

ADMU announced Baterbonia's commitment to the Blue Eagles in February,  giving him a chance to continue his studies and basketball career at the school he had long dreamed of attending. He knew the transition would not be easy.

“Marami pa akong gustong gawin, gusto kong i-prove sa sarili ko na kaya ko. Focus lang palagi... Pagtatrabahuhan ko pa lahat ng weakness ko. Iba yung sistema dito, iba rin yung sa Davao, so magpa-practice at magpa-practice lang ako.”

But for Baterbonia, the move to Manila was not just about being in his dream school—it was also a way for him to help his family.

His longtime Ateneo de Davao coach Jess Linus Evangelio recalled in a Facebook post one of his last conversations with Baterbonia. Before leaving for Manila, the young player told him: “Coach, dili sa ko mubalik mga five years sa Davao kay gusto nako pag madato ko, maahon nako akong pamilya sa ka pobre (Coach, I won’t return to Davao for about five years because I want to succeed first and lift my family out of poverty).”

Baterbonia had not yet played a UAAP game for Ateneo.

Ateneo de Davao University President Fr. Karel S. San Juan, SJ, remembers him as the school’s “Gentle Giant,” describing Baterbonia as “a young man whose presence brought strength, comfort, and joy, and who was truly an MVP on and off the court.”

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Divine Adili’s story began much farther.

Born in Nigeria, he moved to the Philippines as a student-athlete. He first gained attention playing for New Era University Integrated School, where he helped the New Era Junior Hunters win back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, even earning MVP honors along the way.

At 6’10, Adili was hard to miss in Philippine school basketball. By mid-2025, he was already being discussed as part of Ateneo’s team of contenders for UAAP Season 88. They brought him in at a time when the Blue Eagles were trying to rebuild in size after a difficult run.

The GUIDON described Adili as one of Ateneo’s “twin towers.” Some reports even framed him as a possible successor to Ange Kouame, the former Ateneo center who helped lead the Blue Eagles to a UAAP title.

“Bata pa si Divine, so he’s still growing as a player. We want to help him develop his game and teach him how to be a better player here,” Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo told SPIN.

However, his first experience at the UAAP came with early challenges. Adili missed three games because of a back injury—the kind of setback that could have easily slowed a rookie trying to prove himself—but he chose not to dwell on it: “I just play and just pray hopefully that God heals me.”

When he returned, Adili finished as the Blue Eagles' fourth-leading scorer despite playing only six games, according to GMA News. He averaged 7.5 points and 8.17 rebounds.

Off the court, the 21-year-old had a softer side: he loved SpongeBob SquarePants so much that his Instagram username is @adilidivine_spongebob. He said the cartoon helped him relax when he felt tense: “It’s more about the personality of SpongeBob. He’s just happy, he doesn’t really care, he just does his thing—show up to work, he’s always happy, and [it] just revolves around that.” He would later describe his approach to basketball in the same way.

“No excuses from me,” Adili said after returning from injury. “As long as I’m able to go out there and run, just expect 100%.”

Even as Baterbonia and Adili are remembered, questions remain over what happened. The Aurora Provincial Police Office said CCTV footage has been retrieved for forensic examination. They are also looking into possible negligence by the resort management, school administration, and other involved parties.

So far, authorities have said there is no indication of foul play.

“We understand the grief, pain, and many questions and concerns that members of our community may be experiencing," ADMU said in a statement. “The University remains committed to caring for the Baterbonia and Adili families, supporting the team and coaching staff, and pursuing a careful and thorough understanding of the circumstances surrounding this tragedy."