More Eagles are choosing to take their talents to Ateneo de Manila University.

Palarong Pambansa Most Valuable Player Rene Baterbonia of Ateneo de Davao has committed to Ateneo de Manila for his college career.

Meanwhile, his teammates—guards Matt Cayetano, JM Sanoria, and Mackee Pelegrino—are transferring from Ateneo de Davao to Ateneo High School

Phenom Sports Management’s Anton Brodett confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times.

“Bata pa lang ako, pangarap ko nang mag-Ateneo. Sobrang saya ko po at hindi ako makapaniwala na nangyari ito,” Baterbonia told Tiebreaker Times.

Baterbonia, a 6-foot-4 standout, is considered one of the top prospects in the 2026 high school class.

Last December, he led Davao to its first-ever Palarong Pambansa basketball title in Laoag City, scoring 19 points in the Eagles’ 67-51 victory over Western Visayas in the final.

He was also part of the Philippine team, represented by Davao, that swept the 14th ASEAN School Games in Brunei, posting 21 points in the Philippines’ 90-86 win over Malaysia in the championship game.

Baterbonia is also part of the Off-Campus Residences x Toyomoto team that will compete in the 2026 NBTC National Finals.

The 17-year-old native of Agusan del Sur, who idolizes Kymani Ladi, disclosed that he had already trained with Ateneo a year ago and that head coach Tab Baldwin’s vision for him is what led him to decide to go to Katipunan.

“Nag-training na ako kasama yung Blue Eagles last year. Welcome na welcome kaming lahat nun,” he said.

Like Ladi and many Blue Eagles, he hopes that he will one day become a solid pro player once he leaves the nest. But for now, he is focused on his development both on and off the court.

“Matalungan ko yung pamilya ko at mag-improve ako sa skills ko at sa acads,” he said.

The trio of guards will add depth to Coach Bacon Austria’s Blue Eagles. Cayetano is a 6-foot guard, Sanoria a 6-foot-2 winger, and Pelegrino a 5-foot-10 floor general.

“Sobrang saya ko kasi paglipat ko doon, mayroon na akong kilala at makakasama. Sana magkitakita din kami sa college sa Ateneo,” expressed Baterbonia about his fellow Davao Eagles.

All four players will be eligible to play in UAAP Season 89 in their respective divisions.

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University of Santo Tomas opened the second round of the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Football Tournament in style, blanking Claret School of Quezon City, 3–0, to reclaim pole position on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

Powered by a standout performance from striker Argos Alingalan, the Junior Golden Booters completed a season sweep of the Red Roosters and returned to the top of the standings.

Meanwhile, De La Salle Zobel kicked off the matchday with a 3–1 win over Adamson University, while Ateneo de Manila University held on despite the ejections of head coach JP Merida and two players, prevailing 1–0 against PAREF Southridge.

Alingalan once again proved to be the catalyst for the Junior Golden Booters, carrying over the momentum from Tuesday’s 5–1 demolition of the Red Roosters with another scoring clinic.

Fresh off a brace earlier in the week, the 18-year-old forward went one better against Claret, firing a hat-trick in the 29th, 33rd, and 71st minutes.

This clinical display pushed the Tagum City standout’s season tally to seven goals and made him only the second player this year to record a hat-trick in the high school boys’ division, joining Claret’s own Filbert Tacardon, who achieved the feat last January 31 against the Baby Falcons.

“Good na naka-score kami ng three goals,” said UST assistant coach David Basa. “Yung hattrick ni Argos, good confidence-booster sa kanya going to the second round. Masipag naman siya sa training at masipag siya para sa team — reward na rin sa hard work.”

UST now leads with 16 points, followed by idle Far Eastern University-Diliman in second with 15 and La Salle in third with 13. Ateneo (10) reclaimed fourth spot, leapfrogging Southridge (8), which dropped to fifth. Adamson and Claret are in sixth and seventh, respectively, with three points each.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

After a two-game slump, La Salle relied on Andre Tongson’s two-goal performance to bounce back against Adamson.

The rookie from La Salle Green Hills opened the scoring in the 24th minute, calmly skipping past Baby Falcons keeper Cody Saavedra before slotting the ball into an open net. He then completed his brace in the 48th minute with a simple tap-in after a slick dribble from teammate Renz Partosa.

In between Tongson’s goals, Stephen Derrick pulled one back for Adamson in the 34th minute. However, substitute Jayden Gayoso dashed any comeback hopes, sealing the 3–1 victory in the 90+2nd minute for the Junior Green Booters.

“Siyempre, masaya kasi nakuha namin yung objective namin, which was the three points,” said La Salle coach Arvin Soliman. “Sabi ko sa kanila during the huddle, kailangan natin manalo against them na convincing kasi yung first game namin was only 1-0 (last February 11). At least ngayon, naka-score kami ng tatlo. From there, I can say na we’re improving in terms of finishing kasi yun talaga naging problema namin sa previous games namin.”

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

The final match of the evening saw Ateneo edge Southridge by a single goal, mirroring their first-round encounter on January 17.

Captain Andres Dumlao scored the decisive goal in the 22nd minute as the Blue Eagles survived a tense second half.

Manu Simpao was the first Ateneo player sent off after receiving a straight red card for dissent following a yellow card for delaying the game. The ejection sparked strong reactions from the Blue Eagles’ bench, prompting referee Segundo Saluria III to also issue red cards to Merida and assistant coach Mark Ayuson.

Southridge tried desperately to salvage a draw, but the Admirals’ efforts were thwarted. After a shot hit the crossbar, Jose Mamon and Javier Cervantes both failed to convert late-game chances.

In stoppage time, Ateneo defender Johnson Talosig also received a red card for a dangerous foul, giving Southridge one last opportunity. A late corner allowed goalkeeper Timothy Patawaran to attempt a dramatic equalizer, but his effort was easily dealt with by Ateneo’s Reign Deocampo.

“First of all, I’m so happy for my players,” said Merida. “From outside the technical area, I saw that their hard work gave us the three points. Even with the red cards, hindi sila nag-stop going into the final whistle. For me, we deserve these three points and we need to set another preparation going into the Adamson game.”

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PAREF Southridge sent a clear message to the league that, despite a slow start in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Football Tournament, the Admirals remain one of the competition’s most dangerous teams — and that Francis Poticano is still a player to watch.

Thanks to Poticano’s clinical finish and a display of defensive resilience, Southridge pulled off a 1–0 upset over defending champion University of Santo Tomas on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

Poticano extended his scoring streak, following up Wednesday’s breakout performance against Claret School of Quezon City by finding the net for the second straight match. The Grade 11 standout broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, giving the Admirals a precious lead to protect.

UST, however, tried to mount a comeback, similar to its come-from-behind win over Far Eastern University-Diliman. But Southridge’s stubborn defending and off-target attempts from UST’s Golden Booters trio — Stan Biag, Xin Salanatin, and Andres Barabat — allowed the Admirals to hold on for the win.

“First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to God for giving us the strength, the power, and everything to come through the game,” said Southridge’s Ghanaian mentor Sam Bonney.

“Last week, I mentioned we would come back very strong and then try to make a statement. I think we did well. We thank the boys who executed the game plan. It worked, so I’m very, very happy for them.”

Meanwhile, Adamson University struck late to draw Ateneo de Manila University 1-1 in the opener. Then FEU-D edged De La Salle Zobel 2-0 to close the triple-header.

The results moved FEU-D back to the top of the standings with 12 points, followed by UST with 10, and La Salle in third with nine points.

Ateneo and Southridge sit fourth and fifth, respectively, with seven points, but the Blue Eagles’ plus-1 goal difference gives them the edge over the Admirals.

Adamson and Claret round out the standings in sixth and seventh places with three points each.

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

The first match of the triple-header saw Adamson end its first-round campaign by salvaging a draw against Ateneo. Baby Falcons captain Rian Solaiman scored a last-minute tap-in from a set piece in the 90+4th minute to secure Adamson’s third draw of the season.

Solaiman’s goal canceled out the Blue Eagles’ opener, scored by substitute striker Joaquin Goduco in the 74th minute.

After Adamson’s hard-fought draw, coach Darlton Digha had mixed feelings about the result.

“I think we deserved better,” said Digha. “I’m just honest about it (that) we deserved better, but that’s football. They scored a goal from our mistake, and you can’t complain about it. The boys showed their fighting spirit until the end, which is what I’m proud of.”

(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team

The final match of the day saw FEU-D bounce back from its UST loss last Wednesday by defeating La Salle with goals in each half. Left-winger Justin Madeja opened the scoring in the 38th minute, while substitute Sambher Abrenica sealed the win with a goal in the 90+5th minute.

La Salle, meanwhile, could only rue what might have been. Jayden Gayoso had a chance to score the opener in the 21st minute, but FEU-D goalkeeper Gianne Abara made a crucial save.

“Obviously, we learned from our loss against UST,” said FEU-D coach Jake Morallo. “We had to step up kase kailangan namin i-raise yung standard namin. We want to get this championship kaya kailangan namin baguhin after sa game sa UST. Kailangan i-set namin yung standard namin.”

The first round concludes this Tuesday amid Chinese New Year celebrations. Claret faces UST at 2:00 PM, Ateneo takes on FEU-D at 4:30 PM, and Southridge meets DLSZ in the nightcap at 7:00 PM.

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