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Many regret the untimely passing of Rene Baterbonia after he drowned during a training activity of the Ateneo Blue Eagles team in Aurora. In a recent episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” learn where Rene began to hone his skills in basketball.
In his hometown of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, one can feel the sorrow of his townmates for the loss of who they call “Mr MVP,” and who is also known as “Bobet.”
His high school coach Filomino Blancaflor Jr., who is also on mourning, said they took care of the basketball player but in an instant Rene lost everything.
In Barangay San Nicolas, Rene grew up simply as the second child among seven siblings. His father Boboy is a tricycle driver, and his mother sold fish.
His family’s situation in life is the reason why Rene became skilled at playing basketball, which he saw as a way to lift his family from poverty.
Rene’s lolo (grandfather) Renato saw his potential to become a talented basketball player. But according to Renato, his grandson did not immediately take to the particular sport.
It seems Rene inherited Boboy’s skills in basketball, his grandfather said.
“Ang tatay niya, siya ang best player ko parati dahil magaling talaga ang papa niya,” said Renato. “Walang hilig sa basketball ‘yan [si Rene noong una.]”
(His father, he was always my best player because he was very good. At first, Rene was not interested in basketball.)
Renato added that it was when Rene reached 13 years old when he encouraged him to play basketball “because it would be a shame to waste your height.”
When Rene started playing, his grandfather saw great potential.
The young Rene began playing in his barrio’s basketball court that was bare ground instead of paved. Here he honed his strength.
Rene used the wooden board to learn his signature dunk that was much admired in his games.
“Itong ring na ito, dina- dunk ito ni Bobet. Minsan nagigiba,” one resident recalled.
(This ring was where Bobet used to dunk. Once it fell down.)
“Kapag nasanay ka na sa ganitong lupa maam [na court], pagdating mo sa court (na patag) parang simple na lang sa iyo ang maglaro,” said another.
(When you get used to playing on a surface like this, ma’am, once you play on a regular court the game seems simple for you.)
From here, Rene began taking part in tournaments in his town with his grandfather.
“Kahit saan pupunta kami, mag-ano kami ng sasakyan kahit magastos. Kapag nakahawak kasi ng bola, maka-shoot siya, ang mga tao tatayo, palakpak, sigaw,” his grandfather Renato said.
(Wherever we went, we would rent a vehicle even though it was expensive. Everytime he held the ball, scored, people would stand, clap, cheer.)
Through his efforts, Rene suited up for Region 11 and led his team to become champions of Palarong Pambansa 2025, where he was awarded Most Valuable Player.
That is why his grandfather Renato could not contain his excitement that his grandson would be seeing action in the UAAP for the Ateneo Blue Eagles men’s basketball team.
He even bought a widescreen TV so he could watch Rene play in the UAAP.
But everything disappeared in an instant after the tragedy in Aurora where Rene and his teammate Divine Adili lost their lives.
“Talagang sayang si Rene. Sayang na sayang talaga,” Renato said.
(Rene is such a loss. Really a terrible loss.)
Check out the video of the full report of KMJS on what happened to Rene and Divine. Watch. —RF GMA News
