MANILA — Ateneo de Manila University has established two Blue Eagle Athletic Scholarship Funds in honor of late student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia, the university announced Thursday.
In a memorandum signed by University President Fr. Roberto “Bobby” Yap, SJ, Ateneo said the scholarship funds will provide financial assistance to deserving student-athletes from outside Metro Manila, following the paths of Adili and Baterbonia.
The university said the funds will be administered by the Office of Admission and Aid to help future student-athletes pursue their education while preserving the legacy of the two Blue Eagles.
Adili, a Nigerian student-athlete, and Baterbonia, a Palarong Pambansa Most Valuable Player from Agusan del Sur who studied in Davao City, died in a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.
The National Bureau of Investigation has recommended filing criminal charges before the Department of Justice against former Ateneo men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and 11 others in connection with the deaths. Investigators cited probable cause for charges ranging from reckless imprudence resulting in homicide to simple negligence resulting in homicide.
The Department of Justice said it has consolidated the recommendations of the NBI and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Meanwhile, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines granted Ateneo’s request to extend until July 24 the submission of its official findings. The league said preventive measures, including barring the concerned Ateneo coaching staff from all UAAP-related activities, remain in effect pending the outcome of the investigations.