Former Ateneo standout Mike Nieto expressed grief over the deaths of Blue Eagles players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili but declined to comment on a past podcast interview that resurfaced online following the tragedy.
Nieto, now a member of TNT Tropang 5G, spoke briefly before Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
‘I would like to offer my sympathies to the family and friends of Rene and Divine,’ Nieto told reporters.
Baterbonia and Adili died during a team activity in Aurora, an incident that remains under review by sports authorities and the UAAP.
Pressed by the Inquirer about his remarks from a previous appearance on the ‘Balyahan’ podcast that recently went viral on social media, Nieto declined further comment.
The former Ateneo forward was part of the Blue Eagles teams that won three consecutive UAAP championships from 2017 to 2019 under coach Tab Baldwin.
Baldwin had previously described trips to Aurora, particularly in Baler, as part of the program’s efforts to build team chemistry and prepare players for the rigors of the collegiate season.
Nieto was among several former Blue Eagles who shared experiences from those training camps in the podcast hosted by comedian GB Labrador and former PBA player Ranidel de Ocampo, now a member of TNT’s coaching staff.
Former Ateneo players Anton Asistio, Shaun Ildefonso and SJ Belangel also discussed aspects of the program during separate episodes.
Following the circulation of clips from the interview, former Ateneo player Shaggy Allmond urged the public not to take the comments out of context, saying the activities discussed were not intended as forms of initiation.
The deaths of Baterbonia and Adili have sparked widespread discussion within the Philippine sports community, with several organizations calling for reviews of athlete safety protocols and team activities.