Photo: ADMU/Facebook

By Nate Castillo

Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo went on leave amid the ongoing investigation into the tragic deaths of rookie Rene Baterbonia and foreign student-athlete Divine Adili.

The school released a statement on Thursday, stating that the decision to put the two Blue Eagles officials on leave is to ensure the integrity of the investigation into the drowning incident that took the lives of the players during a team-building activity in Aurora last Monday.


Photo: ADMU/Facebook

“To preserve the total integrity, independence and fairness of this investigation – and to ensure all participants can cooperate freely without any actual or perceived pressure – head coach Thomas ‘Tab’ Baldwin and team manager Christopher ‘Epok’ Quimpo have gone on leave for the duration of the inquiry,” Ateneo wrote.

Photo: ADMU/Facebook

“The University is cooperating fully, transparently and without reservation with all investigations being undertaken by national authorities and competent regulatory bodies,” it added.

Ateneo also denied allegations that players were strapped with weights during their training exercise.

Photo: ADMU/Facebook

“The team was engaged in a conditioning exercise in knee-deep water near the shoreline when they were suddenly engulfed by massive waves and powerful rip current. While most of the players managed to fight their way back to safety, Rene and Divine were pulled away,” according to the school.

A multi-stakeholders panel led by the Philippine Sports Commission is formed in support of the investigation by authorities handling the case.