Ateneo de Manila University has withdrawn from the remainder of the 2026 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup following a tragic incident involving two of its student-athletes.
The Executive Committee of the tournament confirmed the decision after continuous discussions with the Blue Eagles’ camp, as relayed by university athletic director Em Fernandez.
The league ultimately granted the request out of compassion in light of recent events.
The withdrawal comes after the passing of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who died last Monday, June 8, in a drowning incident in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Investigations into the incident remain ongoing, with authorities from the PNP-CIDG and NBI looking into the circumstances.
Ateneo had only managed to play one game in the preseason tournament, a 72–52 win over the Adamson Soaring Falcons last Saturday, June 6.
The Filoil brass expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved and to the Ateneo community, offering support as all parties continue to cope with the tragedy.
This marks another instance of Ateneo withdrawing from the preseason competition, after previously opting out in 2013 and 2022 for separate reasons.
