THE UAAP hit Tab Baldwin with a perpetual ban and suspended some Ateneo team officials, staff and coaches, but will allow the Blue Eagles to take part in the Season 89 sports calendar, including the men's basketball tournament.
The premier collegiate league handed down the decision on Friday after an internal investigation into the ill-fated Ateneo training camp in Dipaculao, Aurora in June that claimed the lives of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
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The UAAP board said its administrative review took into consideration the official reports of both the PNP-CIDG and the NBI into the tragedy as well as its own internal probe in which Ateneo recused to 'preserve the integrity of the process.'
Hardest hit was Baldwin, winner of four UAAP championships during his 10-year tenure as Ateneo coach who was perpetually banned from all UAAP competitions and from holding any capacity, and from entering any UAAP competition venue.
His perpetual ban is also final and not subject to appeal.
Suspended indefinitely were longtime Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo, assistant coaches Dean Castano, Sandro Soriano, Reynaldo Jacinto, Hernan Domingo, Caesar Elumba and Grant Dearns, as well as physical therapist John Rueca.
The eight are also banned from all UAAP competition venues, although their cases, unlike Baldwin's, can be appealed.
However, the UAAP board declared the team eligible to compete in the coming season, citing the report of relevant agencies clearing all Ateneo student athletes, as well as the Blue Eagles' desire to honor the memories of their fallen teammates.
"The UAAP’s approach in imposing these sanctions is both protective and restorative," the board said. "It is intended to ensure accountability, strengthen safeguards for the welfare and best interests of all student-athletes, address the harm caused by this incident, and reinforce the lessons learned to foster a safer and more responsible environment across the league."
As a precondition for its participation, Ateneo has been ordered to undertake a comprehensive reassessment of the organizational structure and management of its men’s basketball team.
Here's the UAAP board's statement in full:
The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), upon the internal investigation of Ateneo de Manila University and upon administrative review of the publicized official reports of the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into the tragic deaths of student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili during a team-building activity held in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8, 2026, and with the representatives of Ateneo de Manila University having recused themselves from the Board’s final deliberations and decision-making to ensure the integrity of the process, the UAAP Board, in compliance with its mandate to foster educational development through amateur sports, has reached the following decisions:
1. Thomas Anthony Baldwin is PERPETUALLY BANNED from all UAAP competitions and related activities, in any coaching, administrative, advisory, or official capacity, and he is also prohibited from entering any UAAP competition venue. This sanction is final and shall not be appealable.
2. Team Manager Christopher John Quimpo, assistant coaches Dean Caesar Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Romero Soriano, Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Hernan Ameer Domingo, Caesar Vincent Javellana Elumba, and Grant Dearns, and physical therapist John Eric Rueca shall be SUSPENDED FROM PARTICIPATION in all UAAP competitions and related activities, in any coaching, administrative, advisory, or official capacity, until further determination by the UAAP Board. During this period, they shall likewise not be permitted to enter UAAP competition venues in an official capacity. This sanction may be appealed to the UAAP Board in accordance with its applicable rules and procedures.
In its administrative review, the Board noted the findings of the investigative government agencies, which did not make any recommendation to hold liable the student-athletes present at the incident. With this, the Board also recognizes that the Ateneo men’s basketball student-athletes are themselves victims of this tragedy.
In light of these findings, the Ateneo men’s basketball team shall remain eligible to compete in UAAP Season 89, taking into consideration the expressed desire of these student-athletes to honor the memories of their fallen teammates through competition. However, as a precondition for their continued participation in the UAAP, the Board has required Ateneo de Manila University to undertake a comprehensive reassessment of the organizational structure and management of its men’s basketball team in relation to the University’s entire athletics program in order to strengthen student-athlete protection, welfare, accountability, and institutional oversight.
The UAAP’s approach in imposing these sanctions is both protective and restorative. It is intended to ensure accountability, strengthen safeguards for the welfare and best interests of all student-athletes, address the harm caused by this incident, and reinforce the lessons learned to foster a safer and more responsible environment across the league.
The UAAP again extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Rene Clert Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili. Their passing is an immeasurable loss to the community.
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