Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) players Kieffer Alas and Sam Reyes shared their preparations and recounted the events during the team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, that claimed the lives of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.
Sam Reyes (left) and Kieffer Alas (right) at the “Let’s Talk With Pia Hontiveros” (Photo: The Pod Network Entertainment/YouTube)
In an episode of Let’s Talk with Pia Hontiveros, Sam shared that the team had meetings before leaving Manila for the team-building activity, during which coach Tab Baldwin discussed rip currents and how to “get out” of them.
“We had meetings before training that coach Tab explained about the rip currents and how to get out of a rip current,” Sam said in his first public interview after the tragedy, adding that the goal of the team-building activity was to strengthen their brotherhood and build “mental toughness.”
“He tried to incorporate our BEBOB, Blue Eagles Band of Brothers. That’s where you bond because there are no cellphones and you have to go through obstacles together.”
What they thought was a simple water-based drill that would only last for a couple of minutes turned chaotic and terrifying when they realized that the waves were getting stronger and that they were being dragged into deeper water by the powerful currents.
On the first wave, Sam said they were still having fun and laughing together. By the third wave, they were already screaming and trying to help one another as some players began showing signs of struggling to stay afloat.
By that point, Kieffer recalled feeling like “giving up” or accepting the possibility of dying after being swept away by the waves.
“My head wasn’t straight kasi I just didn’t know what to do,” Kieffer said. “Nag-give up na po talaga ako. I was going to accept na mawawala na po ako.”
But as soon as he felt the seabed and made it back to shore, they realized that Divine and Rene had not been able to do the same.
Kieffer said that experiencing the incident firsthand felt like a “dream” and that everything happened so quickly. Meanwhile, Sam shared that as soon as they got out of the water, there were no responders in the area—only the resort’s security personnel and a lifeguard.
When asked whether they requested life vests during the drill, both players said they did not, as they believed the water would be shallow. During the incident, they were focused on helping one another, with Sam mentioning fellow player EJ Kapihe, who was doing his best to help Divine.
In the episode, Sam also affirmed that the team-building activity was not an initiation rite, contrary to claims circulating on social media.
Following the tragic incident, Sam turned emotional and admitted that it felt difficult to see criticism while they were mourning the loss of their two brothers.
“It was just so hard to talk because we couldn’t accept na nawala yung dalawang teammate namin,” he said.
“It was killing us kasi we were there, we lost two of our brothers. Sobrang sakit po na parang nabuhay nga po kami pero parang pinapatay po kami,” he added, referring to the unfounded speculations and immense bashing that they have received after the tragedy.
On June 15, Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap announced that the university had accepted Tab’s resignation as head coach, as well as Epok Quimpo’s resignation as the Blue Eagles team manager.
Investigations by the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are currently ongoing. Furthermore, ADMU and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) have also launched their individual probes.
As of writing, Ateneo has pulled out of the Filoil preseason tournament. There is still no decision on whether the team will also withdraw from the upcoming UAAP Season 89, which is set to kick off this September.
Watch the video here:
ALSO READ: Ateneo Recruit Rene Baterbonia, Student-Athlete Divine Adili Pass Away
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com’s Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com community at WIM Squad, and join our Viber group to stay updated with the latest around the Philippines and beyond!
