Palarong Pambansa MVP will be named after Rene Clert Baterbonia

RENE Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia’s name could be immortalized soon in the annals of the Palarong Pambansa.

The public push for Mr. Baterbonia, a former Palaro Most Valuable Player (MVP), for a fitting sporting tribute gained ground on Monday to an extent of possibly naming the MVP after him in recognition of his lasting legacy and contributions to the national high school basketball scene.

“Pag-uusapan po sa board,” the Palarong Pambansa secretariat office told The STAR in response to the growing calls for a Mr. Baterbonia homage.

Rallies for Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) alum Mr. Baterbonia, online and on ground especially during a grand homecoming parade from Davao to his home in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur on Monday with never-before-seen line of crowd along the highway, started last week following his tragic death.

Mr. Baterbonia, 19, and Nigerian center Divine Adili, 21, drowned during Ateneo’s team building at the Hermanos Leisure and Farm Resort in Barangay Lipit in Dipaculao, Aurora that has ignited a national outcry and multiple government investigations demanding for answers and justice.

But calls beyond it also grew louder with a sporting focus on Palarong Pambansa, where the 6-foot-4 forward started to make a name for himself that led to his recruitment to play college ball in Ateneo de Manila University.

During his wake at the ADDU Senior High School Bangkal Campus Christ The King Chapel in Davao City, his No. 2 jersey was retired by the Blue Knights.

“No one will ever wear jersey number 2 again here at Ateneo de Davao. It will forever belong to you, Bobet,” said ADDU and Davao Region head coach Jess Evangelio. “You were truly one of one, my brother. There will never be another you.”

ADDU has also named its Senior High School courts as the “Rene Bobet Baterbonia Covered Courts” where his remains went on tour before his Agusan homecoming.

Mr. Baterbonia, even a late-bloomer hooper who started playing just in high school, became the Palaro MVP in 2025 when he steered the Davao Region to its first-ever Palaro championship in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

In his home province this year that featured jampacked crowds one game after another for his homecoming and swan song, Mr. Baterbonia and Davao Region settled for a silver medal behind new king Calabarzon but still made the Mythical Five.

Even Region IV-A led by new Season MVP Ali Mamauag and Finals MVP Dairick Duterte, was among those teams to pay a tribute at the wake of Mr. Baterbonia at the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City, underscoring his humility and kindness on and off the court even at the thick of their Palaro rivalry.

Outside Palaro, Mr. Baterbonia also anchored the Philippines to the 2025 ASEAN School Games title with 21 points in a 90-86 win over Malaysia while gaining an All-Star and a Defensive Player of the Year citation in the National Basketball Training Center national finals featuring the country’s top high school players.

As a proud son of Palaro, hopes were high on Mr. Baterbonia as the next collegiate star in Manila and down the road, a PBA or Gilas Pilipinas standout.

But those dreams were cut short and swept away by the treacherous waters of Aurora to no avail — and to the shock and mourning of the entire Philippine basketball community.

For his fans and those who adore him from afar, even if they’re in no way related by blood, a sporting tribute and honor of these likes are just fitting and rightfully deserving. — John Bryan Ulanday