Former PBA Player Mac Cardona Faces Widespread Condemnation for "Aqua Training" Joke Amidst Ateneo Tragedy
Quezon City, Philippines – Former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Mac Cardona has ignited a firestorm of criticism following a recent social media post that made light of severe flooding in Quezon City while simultaneously referencing a tragic incident involving Ateneo student-athletes. Sports media personality Ceej Tantengco-Malolos has unequivocally labeled Cardona’s actions as a "new low," sparking a broader debate within the Philippine sports community regarding accountability and decorum.
On Monday, Cardona shared a video on social media depicting himself wading through floodwaters along Gregorio Araneta Avenue. Dressed in basketball attire, he facetiously described the activity as “aqua training” and tagged former Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin, writing, “Coach Tab dapat dito kayo mag aqua training. Hahaha joke lang coach tab for content only hahahaha.”
The post, intended as humor, has been met with significant backlash due to its deeply insensitive timing. It surfaced amidst ongoing discussions and investigations surrounding the tragic deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia and Divine Adili. The two students perished on June 8 during an off-campus team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, which reportedly involved a water-related exercise referred to as “aqua training.” The incident remains under active investigation, adding to the profound grief and sensitivity surrounding any mention of "aqua training" within the Ateneo and broader sports communities.
Ceej Tantengco-Malolos, a prominent voice in Philippine sports media, wasted no time in condemning Cardona’s remarks. In a scathing Instagram post, she declared, “Nobody expects decent behavior from Mac Cardona at this point but making jokes about the Ateneo basketball tragedy is a new low.”
Tantengco-Malolos also preemptively addressed potential defenses from Cardona’s supporters who might argue that his retired status makes him exempt from scrutiny. “Before any of his fans come at me with ‘but he’s already retired, leave him alone’ — he’s not retired,” she asserted. She highlighted Cardona’s continued involvement in basketball, specifically his recent promotion to an assistant coaching role in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), underscoring that he still holds a position of influence and responsibility within the sport.
Her criticism extended beyond Cardona’s individual actions, raising crucial questions about the systemic issues within Philippine sports. Tantengco-Malolos challenged why the community continues to offer platforms, opportunities, and endorsements to individuals whose actions consistently generate controversy. She also drew attention to the country’s persistent flood-control problems, emphasizing that such serious issues should not be trivialized or exploited for online content.
“Can we just decide that the hook shot is not enough to justify all this shit?” Tantengco-Malolos emphatically stated, calling for a reevaluation of standards and a greater emphasis on ethical conduct over past athletic achievements.
Cardona’s ill-advised post has thus ignited a broader conversation about accountability and responsibility within Philippine sports. It highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the potential impact of public figures’ statements, especially when commenting on sensitive issues that affect grieving communities. As the investigation into the Aurora tragedy continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the profound sensitivity required when discussing such deeply impactful events.
For more details on this developing story, visit Fastbreak.com.ph.
