QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University has not decided on its participation in UAAP Season 89 after withdrawing from the Filoil preseason tournament following the deaths of two men’s basketball players during a team-building activity in Aurora province on June 8.
Ateneo President Fr. Roberto “Bobby” Yap, SJ, said the university continues to review its options for the upcoming season, which opens in September, after the drowning of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in Dipaculao.
Yap said Ateneo withdrew from the Filoil preseason tournament because the team had just experienced a traumatic incident.
“Yung withdrawal sa Filoil, sana naiintindihan niyo. Si Divine nakaburol pa dito, our players isang linggo pa lang galing sa trauma so parang it doesn’t make sense to play,” Yap said.
(We hope you understand the withdrawal in Filoil. Divine is still in the wake here, and the players are only a week removed from trauma, so it does not make sense to play.)
He said the university has not made a final decision regarding UAAP participation.
“Yung sa UAAP, wala pang desisyon. Pinagaaralan pa pero wala pa talagang desisyon kung anong gagawin doon,” he said.
(As for the UAAP, there is no decision yet. It is still being studied.)
The announcement came during a press conference at the Ateneo campus in Quezon City, where Yap also confirmed the resignations of men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo.
Yap said Ateneo will comply with all requirements of the UAAP as the league continues to review the incident.
UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag said earlier the league is waiting for official reports before deciding on any possible sanctions. He said the UAAP will rely on findings from the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Commission on Higher Education, and Ateneo de Manila University.
The UAAP Season 89 opening remains scheduled for September.