Mother of late Ateneo player Divine Adili seeks answers after son's death
- Divine Adili’s mother expressed deep grief over the death of her son, whom she described as the family's only hope
- Friends and former teammates remembered the Ateneo basketball player as a kind and quiet person who had big dreams for his family
- A close friend shared that the Nigerian athlete had concerns before attending the training activity where the incident happened
- The family is seeking answers as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding his death
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Divine Adili’s mother has spoken about the immense pain their family is experiencing following the death of the Ateneo Blue Eagles player, whom she described as their “only hope.”
Source: Twitter
In a report aired on ABS-CBN News’ TV Patrol, the grieving mother appealed for answers regarding what happened to her son. Fighting back tears, she said the loss has been extremely difficult for their family.
“It’s not easy for us. It’s the only hope of this family. It’s our hope,” she said.
She also called on those involved to provide a clear explanation about the incident.
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“I need an answer, a clear answer from Philippines, from Ateneo Blue Eagle, the coach that took them there. They should please, I just need an answer. Let me know what happened to my son. The stories are not the same,” she added.
Before his untimely death, Adili remained optimistic about his future despite recovering from a back injury during UAAP Season 88. According to those close to him, he was determined to continue his basketball career and help support his loved ones.
His classmate and close friend, Donna De Leon, recalled how committed he was to achieving that dream. She also revealed that during their last conversation before he left for a training activity, the young athlete expressed some concern about what lay ahead.
“Pinag-usapan lang po namin na sinabi niya po sa akin na takot. Hindi naman sa takot na word pero parang based sa mga pinagsasabi po ng teammate niya na ano yung sasabihin ni coach sa training, parang hard training,” De Leon shared.
Friends and former teammates also paid tribute to Adili during his wake. One of them described him as more than just a teammate.
“He's more than a friend to us. He's like a junior brother since we are here before him. Then he's really a very quiet guy, like very friendly. So it's really a very painful event,” he said.
Former Ateneo Blue Eagle Chibueze Ike likewise attended the wake and reportedly called on his former coach, Tab Baldwin, to speak about the incident.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Embassy said the family requested that Adili’s remains undergo an autopsy before being brought back to Nigeria. The embassy also urged members of the Nigerian community in the Philippines to remain calm, avoid speculation, and refrain from spreading unverified information while investigations are ongoing.
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Earlier, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Manila issued an official statement regarding the death of Chukwuemeka Divine Adili, one of the two Ateneo players who died during the June 8 incident in Dipaculao, Aurora. The embassy expressed condolences to Adili’s family, friends, teammates, and the wider Nigerian community. It also revealed that it has been coordinating with the family, Ateneo de Manila University, and Philippine authorities while extending consular assistance and support during the ongoing investigation and repatriation process.
Following the tragedy, Rene Baterbonia’s former high school basketball coach, Jess Evangelio, spoke out against circulating claims that Baterbonia and Divine Adili were swimming with ankle weights during the team-building activity. Evangelio said he personally reached out to members of the coaching staff, who told him that no such weights were used.
Police authorities later echoed the same finding, saying testimonies from team members did not support the allegation. Ateneo also presented accounts from participants involved in the activity, while Coach Tab Baldwin was placed on leave by investigators as the probe continued. As of now, authorities said no evidence has surfaced showing that ankle weights were used during the exercise.
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