PSC cooperating with PNP, DOJ probe into Ateneo players’ tragic deaths

The Philippine Sports Commission has pledged its full cooperation with authorities investigating the tragic deaths of Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball players Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday.

In a statement released Tuesday, the PSC expressed its condolences to the families, teammates, coaches, and loved ones of the two student-athletes.

“As the government agency mandated to provide leadership and direction in sports development and athlete welfare, the PSC is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigations,” the commission headed by Pato Gregorio said.

The PSC also announced that it is convening a sports stakeholders’ panel to assist efforts by the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice in establishing a complete and accurate account of the incident.

Adili, 21, and Baterbonia, 19, were among three Ateneo players swimming during a team-building activity when they reportedly ventured into deeper waters and were swept away by strong currents.

Authorities received a distress call from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Monday afternoon, prompting immediate rescue and investigation efforts.

The two players were rushed to Aurora Memorial Hospital but were declared dead on arrival despite medical efforts to revive them.

Beyond assisting the investigation, the PSC said the multi-stakeholder body will review existing policies, protocols, and training practices to strengthen athlete safety measures.

The panel will include representatives from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education, and the National Youth Commission.

“The goal is not only to understand what happened, but to ensure that lessons learned lead to safer, more responsive systems that protect athletes while sustaining high-performance sport,” the PSC said.

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The commission emphasized that while athletic excellence requires challenging environments, safety must remain a non-negotiable priority.

As investigations continue, the PSC reiterated its commitment to supporting the fact-finding process and working with stakeholders to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“The PSC stands in solidarity with the families and loved ones of Divine and Rene during this time of profound sorrow,” the statement read.