Tab Baldwin apologizes after players’ deaths, says he failed as coach

Ateneo Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin speaks for the first time regarding the deaths of his players,Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adil. –SCREENGRAB/ADMU VIDEO

MANILA, Philippines—In his first public remarks since the deaths of Ateneo players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, coach Tab Baldwin apologized and said he had failed as a coach and leader.

In a pre-recorded video posted by Ateneo de Manila University, Baldwin broke his silence and recounted the events of the team-building activity in Aurora that claimed the lives of the two players.

READ: Tab Baldwin’s silence after players’ deaths an Ateneo decision

“As a coach, I’m entrusted by you, the parents and the families, with first and foremost, their well-being. In this, I feel I’ve failed. I’m sorry, to the depth of my being, I’m sorry,” Baldwin said.

“On that fateful day when we sent the players out for a routine training run in what we thought was shallow water, up to the moment when we realized that whatever had happened, they were in dangerous water.”

Baldwin said everyone involved did their best to bring the players safely back to shore after realizing the situation had become dangerous.

READ: Tab Baldwin, Epok Quimpo on leave as Ateneo probes players’ deaths

“We did everything that we could as coaches, as people responsible for that situation, the players themselves did everything they could to ensure that everybody arrived back on shore safely. And then we realized that we hadn’t accomplished that.”

“In that moment, I experienced the descent into the darkest place imaginable. And yet I knew at the same time that good people, people that had done an amazing job raising these two young men, were going to be in an even darker, more horrible place. At that moment, I felt I had failed.”

“I failed as a leader. I felt I had failed as a coach. I certainly felt like I had failed as a friend to Divine and Rene.”

The longtime Ateneo coach also reflected on the pain endured by the families of Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21.

“Never again would Rene’s mother and father and family, never again would Divine’s family be able to talk to their son or touch their son. Yes, as a coach, I lost my boys too.”

“I’m so deeply sorry. I’m so deeply sorry to not just the families, but everybody that feels let down, somehow betrayed. And I pray that we all find some pathway forward to come back to hope for the future, love for one another, and forgiveness for those of us who failed and tried so desperately hard to reach a better outcome.”

Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo remain on leave while Ateneo conducts a fact-finding inquiry into the incident.