Foes to Bros: How Palaro rivals Baterbonia, Moral became allies for ASEAN Games
by: Denzel Caliao
From strangers to friends, to opponents again. After a crucial fight between DAVRAA and CLARAA during Palarong Pambansa 2025, starring Rene Clert Baterbonia from Davao Region and Kenji “Chog” Moral for Central Luzon, they showcased skills that caught the eye of Coach Jess Linus Evangelio, who invited them to represent the Philippines in the 14th ASEAN Games at Brunei Darussalam on November 28, 2025. With both legends in the game, they escaped Malaysia 90-86 in overtime.
Baterbonia and Moral threw in hand and hand to catch up with their opponents’ gameplay as the fourth quarter ended. Moral graduated as he earned multiple fouls that gave worries for the team as he shot 27 points to deadlock Malaysia, 80-80. After getting the team’s key player ejected, the 17-year-old threw in a three-point shot to seal a gap that was then followed by Rhysus Bajenting’s buy time on the court.
More about the Frenemies
Rene Clert Baterbonia is a 17-year-old star from the Davao region who started his career when he was just 15 years old. His determination caught the attention of Coach Nitorreda, who then scouted him to become Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School’s varsity, where his balling career started as he shot history for region 11 for clinching the first gold in Palarong Pambansa basketball.
Meanwhile, before claiming the first place on the podium, he came across Central Luzon’s stellar Kenji Moral, who is also known as ‘Chog.’ Chog is a 17-year-old player who astonished the spectators during Palaro earlier this year with his aggressive three-point shots that gave an advantage to CLARAA for the first to third quarters.
Allying the alien
Baterbonia met Moral during their fight in Palarong Pambansa, wherein they first saw each other’s skills, tactics, and gameplay, not knowing that they would one day become a dynamic duo that would exceed the expectations of their coaches. “Palaban na kalaro si Baterbonia, and he’s a hustle player. Masaya po ako lalo na kapag hindi niya sinasayang mga assist ko,” claimed Moral as he shared his first impression of his now buddy.
Chog visited Baterbonia at Davao City during the second week of November to prepare for the ASEAN Games at Brunei. “I feel happy because we went from being rivals to becoming teammates,” expressed Baterbonia. The player added that Moral and he created a strong chemistry that built trust and understanding, which became the strength of the team as they pushed each other with one goal.
A stranger you know
After their triumph at the ASEAN Games, both players and their teams will be preparing for their next game, which is DAVRAA—one step closer to Palarong Pambansa 2026. This time, Baterbonia and Moral will not share the same ball anymore; hence, they will go back to the time they first met: DAVRAA vs CLARAA.
Baterbonia shared that he is excited to play because they will be rivals again but this time with more respect and passion, sharing the chemistry they built and seeing the improvements they made as teammates. Moral in, said that the other hand said that, “Siguro mag d-double effort pa ako and maghahanda para makalaban ko ulit yung mga brothers ko.” From being the best players of their separate teams to being the best shooters in ASEAN, to their next journey into being opponents again in PALARO, Baterbonia and Moral will share the bond they created and the power they built as a duo and as players.