FRESH off TNT’s crucial 106-98 win over Barangay Ginebra which levelled the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at two-apiece, the first thing that Jordan Heading did when he faced reporters was to honor Ateneo’s fallen players in Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Heading, who fired in 29 points on Wednesday to lift the Tropang 5G to an all-important Game 4 win, put the spotlight on the Ateneo pair who tragically passed away on Monday afternoon after drowning in a team-related activity in Aurora.
“First of all I just want to take the time to give my love to the families of Rene and Divine. That played heavily in our minds so I just want to take the time and give love to their families,” he said.
READ Ateneo Blue Eagles attend Baterbonia wake; Tab not with team
The connection between the two teams is clear. Ateneo and TNT practice in the same facility, the Moro Lorenzo Gym inside the school grounds, and members of the two ball clubs have developed quite a brotherly bond.
Chot Reyes shared how Adili, the Nigerian gentle giant, would always be the first to greet him as soon as he enters the facility – something that he said he’ll terribly miss moving forward.
“Just to come off Jordan’s message, we see those guys not too much Rene, but Divine over the past two years because we practice in the same facility. We lift weights in the same gym,” Reyes said.
“It was really surreal to step into the Moro Lorenzo Court and the gym without Divine’s ‘Good morning coach’ greeting right there. So I’m really glad that Jordan brought it up because he’s right, that’s something we discussed in the team yesterday.”
The connection goes even deeper as TNT assistant Sandy Arespacochaga has deep ties with Ateneo and was part of the coaching staff of Tab Baldwin in Adili’s lone year in the UAAP.
Though Arespacochaga is no longer part of the Ateneo crew now since he took over the Gilas U18 Women coaching job, Reyes said they still gave the soft-spoken mentor some space to grieve and process things.
“We allowed him to leave practice yesterday. He was constantly on the phone and was actually asked to report to the university president. Today in the pre-game, he was in the team when they paid their respects so we gave him a lot of time,” Reyes said.
“We told coach Sandy not to worry about his responsibilities with Talk ‘N Text. For us there are things more important than a championship series and that’s one of them.”
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