Baterbonia returns home to chants of ‘MVP!’

HOME IS THE HERO Townmates of Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia, including those from nearby areas, pay their respects to the 18-year-old cager who returned to Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, on Tuesday. —CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN

TALACOGON, AGUSAN DEL SUR, Philippines — Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie cager Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia is back in his hometown. His remains arrived here past 1 a.m. on Tuesday after a 17-hour trip from Davao City that normally takes only seven hours.

The funeral convoy, however, had to slow down at almost every town along the way as people lined up by the roadside and chanted “MVP, MVP!” (Most Valuable Player).

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As of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, at least 2,000 individuals, some from Surigao and Davao provinces, had paid their respects to him at the town’s evacuation center and municipal gymnasium where his wake will be held until June 23.

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The funeral convoy passed by San Francisco town around 11 p.m. on Monday, with two fire trucks giving it a water salute.

READ: Cagers’ deaths: Ateneo head says sorry, accepts Baldwin’s resignation

Crowds gathered on the national highway from Gaisano Grand Mall to the Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center, located at the provincial capital in Prosperidad town, to see Baterbonia off.

Tens of thousands of people also lined up on highways in the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Agusan del Sur to pay their respects to a rising Mindanaoan basketball star who drowned during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, with his teammate, Divine Adili.

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READ: Ex-Ateneo players go to CIDG amid Baterbonia-Adili drowning probe

The 18-year-old Baterbonia honed his basketball skills under the early influence of his father, whom he often watched compete in local leagues as a child.

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Father’s influence

According to Arfylle Goloran, a journalist and native of Talacogon, Rene’s father, known as “Dodoy,” was “a sharpshooter from beyond the arc” and a standout player for Barangay San Nicolas in the 40-above category of the Mayor’s Cup Summer Basketball League.

Baterbonia, alongside his older brother Rubeyan, later followed in their father’s footsteps, becoming teammates in the under-18 category of a previous Mayor’s Cup tournament.

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During his high school years, he actively competed in various basketball competitions, including the Governor’s Cup, which he joined at the age of 15. He also represented his school in district, division, and regional-level tournaments under the Department of Education. /cb