Tab humingi ng apology

MANILA, Philippines — Pormal na humingi ng paumanhin kahapon si Ateneo De Manila University men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin sa pamilya ng mga nasawing sina Rene Baterbonia at Divine Adili.

Ginawa ito ni Baldwin sa isang pre-recorded vi­deo kung saan wala siyang binasang script.

“I’m so deeply sorry to not just the families, but everybody that feels let down, somehow betrayed,” wika ng Blue Eagles mentor na pilit na pinigilan ang pag-iyak.

“And I pray that we all find some pathway forward to come back to hope for the future, love for one another, and forgiveness for those of us who failed and tried so despera­tely hard to reach a better outcome. I wish peace for eve­rybody. I wish comfort for everybody who is hur­ting. And I pray that we will all find that,” dagdag nito.

Nalunod sina Baterbonia at Adili sa team buil­ding activity ng Ateneo team sa isang resort sa Dipaculao, Aurora.

Ayon sa Aurora Police Provincial Office, walang suot na ankle weights sina Baterbonia at Adili habang sila ay nagte-training sa tabing dagat nang mangyari ang insidente.

Inamin ni Baldwin na nabigo siyang isalba ang mga buhay nina Baterbonia at Adili.

Ayon sa American-Kiwi mentor, siya rin ay nawalan ng dalawang ‘anak’ kina Baterbonia at Adili na hinuhubog niyang maging potensyal na professional players.

Hindi rin inakala ni Baldwin, dating coach ng Gilas Pilipinas, na magkakaroon ng trahedya sa isang masaya nilang team building.

“On that fateful day when we sent the players out for a routine training run and what we thought was shallow water up to the moment when we rea­lized that whatever it happened they were in dangerous water. And we did everything that we could as coaches, as people res­ponsible for that situation; the players themselves did everything they could to ensure that everybody arrived back on shore safely. When we realized that we haven’t accomplished that,” ani Baldwin.