IN A poignant tribute to a promising basketball player, Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) has pledged to grant full scholarships to all of the siblings of student-athlete Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia.
The announcement was made by University president Fr. Karel S. San Juan during a memorial mass on Saturday night, June 13, held in honor of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa Most Valuable Player (MVP) who drowned, along with Nigerian teammate Divine Adili, on June 8 in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Fr. San Juan revealed that the decision came after a conversation with the grieving parents of Baterbonia, known in the AdDU campus as “gentle giant.”
The scholarship program will cover the education of all siblings, from basic education all the way through college degree completion.
Fr. San Juan announced during the mass:
“I also want to announce—as a result of my conversation with his mother and father this afternoon—that one of Bobet’s dreams will now come true. The very dream that brought him to Manila and forced him to leave his family here in Davao: his dream for his siblings. All six of his siblings will be given full scholarships by Ateneo de Davao University.”
The scholarship announcement followed an official statement issued by the university on June 9, detailing the immense grief gripping the campus.
Hailing from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, Baterbonia had skyrocketed to national prominence just a year prior.
In 2025, the standout high school student led the Davao Region (DavRAA) to a basketball championship title at the Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte, sweeping the tournament’s MVP honors.
In an interview with national media prior to the tragedy, the young athlete frequently noted that his relentless drive on the court and his aspirations to enter the professional ranks were entirely motivated by his desire to lift his family out of poverty.
Fr. San Juan remembered Baterbonia as far more than just a dominant student-athlete:
“He was a brother, a teammate, a friend, and an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him… Those who knew him remembered not only his skill, but his humility, his quiet leadership, and the genuine kindness he showed to everyone around him.”
Calls for a transparent investigation
As the Ateneo community rallies to support the families of Baterbonia and Adili, school administrators have promised accountability and clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding the team-building incident.
“We trust that the circumstances of this tragedy will be examined fully, and that whatever is found will be addressed with honesty and care for the families,” Fr. San Juan stated.
While the university and the local sports community mourn the premature loss of two rising talents, the scholarships ensure that Baterbonia’s legacy will directly secure the future of the family he died trying to support.
