What happens next? Possible fallout from Ateneo drowning incident

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo de Manila University and now-resigned Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin could face serious consequences over the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Baterbonia, 18, and Adili, 21, drowned on June 8 during a team building in Dipaculao, Aurora, that almost claimed the lives of several other players.

Here are the possible fallout from the incident:

Ateneo takes a voluntary leave

There are growing calls for Ateneo to take a leave of absence from the UAAP as a way to show its accountability over possible shortcomings in ensuring the safety of the team building and lapses in response following the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili. 

Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap did not shoot down the possibility of the school withdrawing from Season 89 when asked about its future participation in the UAAP, saying the university is still weighing its options.

“With regards to the UAAP, we have yet to make a decision. We’re still studying the matter,” said Yap in Filipino during a press conference on June 15. 

In the aftermath of the incident, Ateneo formed a task force charged with reforming the university’s athletics program.

UAAP drops the hammer

No sanctions have been made by the UAAP as it waits for the results of probes launched by concerned government agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

The UAAP also gave Ateneo until July 15 to submit the official report of its independent fact-finding inquiry.

Historically, erring member schools have been punished by the UAAP.

La Salle sustained perhaps the most severe penalties when the UAAP stripped the Green Archers of their basketball championship in Season 67 (2004) and runner-up finish in Season 68 (2005) for fielding two ineligible players, Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian, who were discovered to have used spurious documents to enter the school.

The UAAP then suspended La Salle from all sports in Season 69 (2006-07).

La Salle disputed the harshness of the suspension, but the UAAP pushed through with banning the university from all sports since league rules state that member schools must have entries in mandatory sports basketball and volleyball.

Almost two decades earlier, Adamson suffered the same fate when the UAAP prohibited the school from participating in all sports in Season 57 (1994-95) after Marlou Aquino played for the Soaring Falcons despite being ineligible due to academic deficiencies. 

In 2020, the UAAP penalized former UST Growling Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo as well, slapping him with an indefinite ban for violation of government health protocols during the pandemic after he supervised a training camp in his home province of Sorsogon.

Six years has passed and Ayo still has not coached in the UAAP again. 

It is uncertain whether the UAAP will enforce the same sanction on Baldwin, although it has barred him and his coaching staff who were present during the Aurora incident from all league activities while investigations are ongoing. 

Baldwin’s career in doubt

As the Blue Eagles head coach, Baldwin bore the brunt of the blame over the drowning of Baterbonia and Adili, especially after details highlighting the lack of safety measures came out.

The players, according to Kieffer Alas and Sam Reyes during their appearance on the Let’s Talk with Pia Hontiveros podcast, were not given life vests for the water activity despite the fact that some of the players, including Adili, were non-swimmers.

Also, Alas and Reyes said that only two swim rings and three volleyballs, which were used as alternative flotation devices, were around when the players were swept away by strong currents.

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In light of the information available, Baldwin could face criminal negligence, according to lawyer Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of People’s Lawyers. 

“There was disregard for the athletes’ safety. They knew there would riptides, they were warned of the chance of riptides, and yet, he still brought them there. Why did he push through with the training? Obviously, there was negligence on his part,” said Cortez in a mix of Filipino and English.

“Even if they say that they were doing the training there for the past several years, the fact that there were no incidents or accidents during those past years will not exculpate them from liability because obviously, the location was dangerous and the athletes should not have been exposed in such conditions.” 

If Baldwin goes scot-free legally, his coaching career in the Philippines may be in serious doubt as teams — whether at the high school, collegiate, or professional level — which acquire his services in the future could draw serious backlash from the public. 

The Alien Employment Permit of the American-Kiwi coach may also be revoked by the Department of Labor and Employment. 

Recruitment challenges

Ateneo is undoubtedly one of the premier destinations for top basketball prospects owing to its wealth of resources and its track record of producing players who have gone on to see action not only in the PBA but also in professional leagues abroad. 

The acquisition of Alas, a UAAP juniors MVP and a Mythical Five member in the FIBA U16 Asian Championship, reflects Ateneo’s recruitment powers.

But it will not be a surprise if Ateneo struggles to land sought-after recruits in the wake of the incident.

Just recently, Baterbonia’s Ateneo de Davao teammates Macky Peligrino, JM Sanoria, Matt Cayetano, and Rhysus Bajenting backed out of their commitment to play for Ateneo de Manila’s high school team.

The four will instead suit up for La Salle Zobel. – Rappler.com