MANILA, Philippines -- An unlikely source of motivation and inspiration has emerged for the UST Growling Tigers in UAAP Season 89.
Before facing defending champion De La Salle University on Wednesday, UST staff and players met Rovelyn Baterbonia, the mother of late Ateneo student-athlete Rene Baterbonia, and her family in the dugout. The meeting was arranged for Mrs. Baterbonia and her family to see, in particular, sophomore Koji Buenaflor, whose resemblance to her son had prompted immense attention on social media.
Mrs. Baterbonia later sat behind UST's bench as the Tigers defeated the Green Archers, 80-75, in a thrilling finish.
For UST head coach Pido Jarencio, the meeting was more than a touching moment. It gave his team a different perspective away from the basketball court and, perhaps, an added source of motivation for the season ahead.
"First of all, what happened earlier was touching because the mother approached us," Jarencio said after the game.
"She approached Koji since Koji looks a lot like Rene.
"Seeing Koji reminded the mother of Rene. She hugged him and was in tears."
For weeks, Buenaflor had been the subject of social media posts highlighting his resemblance to Baterbonia, who drowned during a team-building activity with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.
Rumors even circulated that Buenaflor was related to the Baterbonia family. The UST sophomore denied the claims in a social media post.
Additionally, UST had no connection to Baterbonia, who had committed to play for Ateneo after winning the Palarong Pambansa MVP award in 2025.
Still, the encounter brought the two stories together in an unexpected way.
Jarencio saw an opportunity to turn the emotional moment into something meaningful for his players, promising Mrs. Baterbonia that the Tigers would carry her son with them throughout the season.
"All I told her was: 'You are here; we will dedicate all our games to your son, Rene.' The mother was overjoyed," Jarencio said.
The veteran coach, who last won a UAAP title in 2006, stressed that UST was not trying to take advantage of the moment or draw attention to itself; it was simply the Tigers' way of acknowledging the family's grief, he said.
"We aren't trying to steal the spotlight, grandstand, or anything like that," Jarencio said.
"They were the ones who reached out to us. They sought us out because Koji reminded them of their son. As for us, the only thing I can offer them is dedicating every game to Rene Baterbonia.
"We aren't from Ateneo. This simply came from us, from our own hearts."
On the court, Buenaflor contributed five points, five rebounds and two assists after shooting 2-of-9 from the field. He also had to take on a bigger role alongside the starters after Gelo Crisostomo re-aggravated a knee injury in the first quarter and did not return.
Amiel Acido led UST with 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Collins Akowe posted 18 points and 10 rebounds. Akowe also committed seven turnovers.
More importantly, the victory gave UST its first win of the season after opening the campaign with a loss to UP on Sunday.
Ateneo, the program to which Baterbonia had committed, had earlier returned to action after the tragedy that also claimed the life of foreign student-athlete Divine Adili.
Adili's parents, Elias and Ifeoma Joy Adili, sat behind the Ateneo bench as the Blue Eagles opened their Season 89 campaign against the UE Red Warriors.
Ateneo dominated UE, 101-74.
The Ateneo players had met Adili's parents two days previously, when they promised to dedicate the season to Adili and Baterbonia. Shortly before the final buzzer, the Blue Eagles were all smiles, formed heart gestures with their hands, and pointed toward the Adilis as they offered a dedication to their son.
"We met them the other day," Ateneo team captain Jared Bahay said.
"We talked and caught up, and after that, after everything, I just told them that we are dedicating the entire season to Divine and Rene.
"I made sure all my teammates heard what I said so they would know that we aren't allowed to lose today, because they are there with us."
Kieffer Alas impressed on his UAAP debut, scoring 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting in just 20 minutes.
For Alas, speaking with Adili's parents before the game gave the team another emotional lift as it prepared to return to the UAAP.
"Especially after our greetings with the parents, I feel like that lifted our spirits even more," Alas said.
"I feel like going into it, we were quite thinking of how we will adjust to the crowd compared to our preseason.
"It's gonna be different, of course. This is the UAAP.
"But once we met them, I feel like it lifted our spirits even more as a team. Especially with their support, knowing what we've been through, it's just happy. It's just fun because they have our backs."
For Adili's parents, knowing the truth from the players gave them some sense of clarity about the death of their son.
Perhaps, in knowing the truth, the parents, Ateneo and the wider UAAP community can begin to find peace.
"We talked to the teammates because they are the ones that will tell us what happened," Mr. Adili said.
"They were present at the place of the scene, so they explained everything.
"That was our purpose of coming, to see the team, to talk with them, to tell us the truth. It's only the truth that will set you free. So we have known the truth, and I think I can now go back to my kinsmen and tell them that this is what happened."
