ATENEO coach Tab Baldwin's grueling preseason training camps slash team building have come under scrutiny following the Aurora tragedy that claimed the lives of Blue Eagles youngsters Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Interviews with former Blue Eagles have resurfaced on social media highlighting the experiences the players had to endure in the buildup to the UAAP basketball season that some believe is more boot camp than training camp or team building.
The tough environment that these players faced during that 'hell week' was best described by Baldwin himself in an interview shortly after winning the first of his four UAAP championships with the Blue Eagles in 2017.
READ: Ateneo says intensive Baler training camp key to UAAP title run
Baldwin explained the camp, inspired by a book written by legendary Texas A&M football coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant, was designed to 'break the men.'
"It was the worst week of our lives," former Blue Eagles standout Mike Nieto, describing the preseason camp in that 2017 interview.
In the hours after news of the two Ateneo players' deaths was announced, this SPIN.ph piece from 2017 as well as recent interviews of former Ateneo players were dug up by netizens, obviously trying to learn about the nature of the Aurora camp where the accident happened.
However, until an investigation is completed, there is no certainty that the Ateneo camp held on Monday was similar to the preseason training held by the Blue Eagles in this same location in the past.
'Para s'yang boot camp'
"Para siyang boot camp talaga, sa beachfront kami. Parang pang-sundalo," said former Ateneo player Shaun Ildefonso in a guesting on the Balyahan podcast with PBA and Gilas Pilipinas great Ranidel de Ocampo and GB Labrador.
"One week kami magkakasama tapos hindi mo alam kung kailan kayo gigisingin," said Mike Nieto in another episode.
The players recounted being taken to a resort in Aurora where their cellphones were confiscated for the week during the training camp that involved no basketball but tested each player's commitment and resolve to the limit.
During those activities, the players had no idea what time they will be woken up - with sirens being blown as early as 3 a.m. - and they also didn't know what's in store for them for the day, with grueling challenges pushing them to their limits.
Most harrowing of those, as recounted by Ildefonso and former teammate Anton Asistio, were the close shaves, particularly that experienced by Gboy Babilonia, who didn't know how to swim.
"Hindi marunong lumangoy yung beterano namin. Si coach Tab na mismo ang sumalba sa kanya sa takot niyang makaaksidente siya ng player," said Nieto.
READ Baterbonia's mom flies to Manila seeking answers; Gov wants probe
Still, these tough times forged solidarity among the Blue Eagles and built character, the players swore.
"Doon nabuo yung band of brothers namin, yung culture na servanthood kasi althroughout kami ang magkakasama," Nieto said.
As the scrutiny on these Ateneo training camps grew, other former Ateneo players leapt to the defense of the team and its coaches.
Former Ateneo player Shaggy Allmond dismissed online claims that the camp was more like 'initiation rites' than team building.
"As someone who experienced that training camp during my time with ADMU that they also just went through as well, I understand the gravity of the training itself and what we willingly put ourselves through in hopes to boost conditioning ahead of the season and become closer as a team," wrote Allmond.
"There is absolutely no way that this had anything to do with 'initiation.' The team goes there for the sole purpose of conditioning, getting stronger, becoming a closer team due to the hardships faced during that specific beach training.
"Between working your ass off on that beach and a little bit of time to rest and eat there is no time to even think of doing any kind of initiation there. Each player is so tired from the work they put in the whole day that they wouldn’t even have enough energy to do something like that.
"Those players love each other and wouldn’t put each other in an initiation situation like that where there could be a grave outcome that way."
He furthered: "Yes, that was probably the most physically and mentally draining training that I’ve ever experienced but there was nothing done to us that would put us in immediate danger."
Baldwin explained in the 2017 interview that the hardships endured by the players in camp were meant to "reduce [them] to a state where he can’t do things on his own and he requires the assistance of others in order to accomplish something."
'Break the men'
"We designed physical and mental task at the camp which are essentially designed to do that — break the men,” the American-New Zealander added.
Baldwin added: "It was built around the fact that its very difficult for young men who are at the height of their playing prowess, all of whom had egos that are fed by loving parents, adoring girlfriends, adoring fans, victories along the way. And these egos needed to be broken down to the whole."
Whether the players were doing drills and exercises or were there relaxing in the shores when the accident happened is one of the questions begging to be answered as the basketball community deals with the tragedy.
The police have yet to present the full investigation of the drowning incident, only stating that Baterbonia and Adili "were swimming when they were reportedly carried by a strong current into deeper waters" on Monday afternoon.
Until a full report is released, a lot more questions are begging for answers.
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