Ateneo undecided on potential UAAP withdrawal
Ateneo players during a game against La Salle in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–After pulling out of the Filoil preseason tournament, Ateneo is still undecided about its participation in the upcoming UAAP Season 89.
Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Bobby Yap, SJ, on Monday said that the school is still reviewing its decision on whether to opt out of the season, which opens in September, following the fatal drowning of its men’s basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8.
READ: Tab Baldwin resigns as Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach
“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 in a press conference.
(I hope you understand the withdrawal in Filoil. Divine’s wake is still ongoing here, and our players are only a week removed from the trauma so it doesn’t make sense to play.)
“Yung sa UAAP, wala pang desisyon. Pinagaaralan pa pero wala pa talagang desisyon kung anong gagawin doon.”
(As far as the UAAP is concerned, we don’t have a decision yet. We’re still reviewing, but we still really don’t know what we’re going to do.)
READ: Who is Tab Baldwin? Ateneo coach faces scrutiny after tragedy
In the same press conference held at Ateneo campus in Quezon City, Yap also announced the resignations of Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo.
Yap also assured Ateneo’s full compliance with the UAAP, which continues to monitor developments surrounding the tragedy and has called for a prompt and thorough investigation.
UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag earlier said the league is awaiting official reports before determining whether sanctions will be imposed, stressing the need for due process and reliance on findings from relevant authorities.
The league will take into account the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Commission on Higher Education and Ateneo de Manila University.
