THOUGHTS | THE ATENEO TRAINING TRAGEDY

I don't want to speculate because a college of that magnitude can't afford to damage its reputation by simply sweeping this under the rug.

I mean, this is Ateneo de Manila University, for crying out loud. This is the school where your boss probably studied or earned a master's degree. It's hard to find someone making coffee with this school on his or her resume.

That said, I only have one question.

These players, as talented as they are, are still students.

Can a parent say no and refuse to let their son join a trip because they believe the location is dangerous or simply have an uneasy feeling about it, without hurting their child's standing with the team?

I know this might make the player look selfish, or worse, give off a "mama's boy" vibe, but school-sponsored trips aren't supposed to happen without the assurance that the students will be properly cared for, right?

After all, these athletes are still amateurs. They're still students.

Yes, these players are focused on pursuing professional basketball careers, but more than anything, they still need to balance academics with their extracurricular commitments.

Yes, I may be downplaying basketball, fully aware that many of these athletes chose Ateneo with basketball as a major factor in their decision. But at the end of the day, it is what it is. They are still students.

Their primary responsibility is to study, maintain their grades, and work toward earning their degrees, all while keeping alive the possibility of a professional basketball career somewhere on the horizon.

It is the school's obligation to inform their parents if they are going on an excursion that requires them to stay overnight. Any time a student participates in a field trip, that location essentially becomes an extension of the school.

This is the issue I have with what happened involving Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

I am in no position to speculate because I wasn't present at the site. However, I am also a parent who would call or text my son now and then to make sure he's okay.

A parent naturally wants to know if their child is doing fine. If they're going somewhere to study, hang out with friends, or even attend a party where alcohol is involved, it's the child's responsibility to answer their phone and let their parents know that they're safe and not in danger.

This is the same responsibility that a child will eventually have when he grows up and becomes the one taking care of his parents. It's the natural cycle of life, and we dread it when things happen the other way around.

Yes, kids may see this as their parents being overly protective. And with the current brain-rot culture affecting some Gen Alpha kids, many are notorious for ignoring their phones to avoid interrupting a YouTube video, an online game, or an endless scroll through social media.

However, a parent has to do what a parent needs to do.

Sure, it may seem uncool in front of their friends, but when these kids grow up and have families of their own, they'll probably end up doing the same thing.

Even the best-laid plans have flaws.

And again, for an institution like Ateneo, this shit blows.

Everything is fine when the system works. The Blue Eagles built a dynasty during Tab Baldwin's first stint as Ateneo head coach, and many of his players eventually turned professional. Thirdy Ravena, SJ Belangel, Will Navarro, and Dave Ildefonso all went on to play professionally, with some even getting opportunities in international leagues.

Following the accidental drowning of the two players, several online podcasts resurfaced in which former Ateneo players recounted how demanding Baldwin's training methods could be. According to SPIN.ph, the training was designed to "break the men." Again, no one can argue with Baldwin's coaching record. That said, I don't see him completely escaping scrutiny in this situation.

Do any of us remember how the UST Bicol Bubble debacle derailed that squad? That team had the likes of CJ Cansino, Brent Paraiso, Mark Nonoy, Ira Bataller, Deo Cuajao, and Rhenz Abando, yet poor board and lodging arrangements in the middle of the pandemic ended up disrupting the entire roster.

And that controversy was largely about inadequate accommodations and food. There was a massive uproar because not only were they training during the height of COVID, but the school also drew criticism for allegedly providing players with stale and unhealthy food.

The controversy eventually led to players transferring to other schools, coaches losing their jobs, and school officials having to do a lot of explaining in the media. In the end, what started as a training camp became a full-blown public relations disaster that affected the entire program.

What the Ateneans reportedly experienced in Aurora may have involved top-of-the-line accommodations, but it also had a demanding itinerary.

Again, I don't want to speculate about what exactly took place, but if the training grounds are considered an extension of the school, then what parent would NOW willingly send their child into that environment?

Accidents happen. And to be fair, it's probably not entirely Tab Baldwin's and the coaching staff's fault that this tragedy occurred. Running in the water has long been a staple of athletic training, and I suppose it's even more appealing to do it on a scenic beach.

That said, safety still has to be part of the equation.

---

When I asked ChatGPT whether the beaches in Aurora, particularly those in Dipaculao, are dangerous, this was the summary it provided:

Yes, some beaches in Aurora can be dangerous. Not necessarily because they appear dangerous at first glance, but because strong currents and sudden changes in depth can occur even in areas that seem shallow.

Aurora's Pacific-facing coastline is undeniably beautiful, but it can also be deceptive. The seabed may have sudden drop-offs or deeper channels, while rip currents and longshore currents can develop even when the water near the shore appears manageable.

Conditions can also change quickly, with waves and currents becoming more powerful in a short period of time. Many of Aurora's beaches are known surfing destinations, which means they are exposed to stronger wave energy than what people would typically encounter in places like Batangas or Pangasinan.

Also, I don't know what the real deal is with climate change, but when I was in elementary school, I was taught that the Philippines basically has two seasons: the dry season and the wet season. Traditionally, the rainy season begins around June, which is one of the reasons why there were efforts to move the start of classes to August.

That said, the opening of classes has gradually crept back toward June because, regardless of when classes begin, rain is almost always part of the equation. We also live in the Pacific Ring of Fire, so whenever heavy rains arrive, there is often concern about typhoons, earthquakes, and even tsunamis.

Because of this, people living in coastal communities are constantly reminded to stay alert.

Right now in the Philippines, classes can be suspended even with the mere threat of a typhoon. During the last school year, there were instances when students ended up playing in the streets of Manila, while holding their cellphones because of their brain-rot culture, because local governments had already suspended classes, only for the expected rains to never materialize.

What that tells me is simple: we are very aware of how dangerous even a low-pressure area can become.

As in.

So, no offense, but that is why I find it somewhat questionable that the coaching staff chose the waters of Aurora as a training ground. If safety is supposed to be the top priority, then choosing a Pacific-facing coastline known for strong currents and unpredictable conditions raises understandable questions, especially in hindsight.

---

When we talk about training in that kind of environment, every detail has to be accounted for. The physical demands, the condition of the athletes, the weather, the terrain, the available safety measures, and the emergency response protocols all need to be considered. The moment a school organizes and supervises an activity, the responsibility extends beyond simply improving the players' conditioning.

That's why people are asking questions. Not because accidents never happen, but because when an activity is part of an organized training program, there is an expectation that every reasonable precaution has been taken to keep the participants safe.

Divine Adili finished third in scoring for the Blue Eagles last season. Following the departures of Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar, the Nigerian was expected to take on a larger role on both ends of the floor, especially considering that he also led the team in rebounds and blocks during Season 88.

Rene Baterbonia, on the other hand, was widely regarded as one of the next big prospects in Philippine basketball. He had already proven at the Palarong Pambansa level that this MVP's game could translate into both individual accolades and team success. His skill set made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the country. Because of this tragedy, however, he will forever be remembered as one of the biggest "what-ifs" in Philippine basketball.

It is heartbreaking that their careers were cut short before they had the chance to reach their full potential. It's even more heartbreaking to see parents standing in front of the cameras searching for answers. They entrusted the school with their children's future, hoping to provide them with better opportunities and a brighter path in life. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy. No matter where people stand on the issues surrounding the incident, there are families, friends, teammates, coaches, and an entire community grieving because of what happened.

Hopefully, this tragedy serves as a lesson for everyone involved and leads to meaningful changes moving forward.

Parents entrust schools with the care of their children. No system is perfect, and no amount of planning can eliminate every risk. But the expectation is that reasonable safeguards are in place so that when something does go wrong, the consequences are not tragic.

Again, let me ask this question: If a parent knows that a team will be training in a remote location, especially in light of this tragedy, can that parent say no? More importantly, can the student-athlete himself say no without risking the ire of his teammates or the coaching staff?