Ateneo player Divine Adili’s father shares heartbreaking memory of final calls with son
- Divine Adili's father, Elias Adili, recalled the final phone calls he received from his son before the Ateneo player died in an incident in Aurora
- The grieving parent said he remains devastated by the loss and is still struggling to accept what happened
- While mourning, the father is also seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding the tragedy
- He raised questions about safety measures that were allegedly in place before the team activity was conducted
MAKI-TINGIN KA NAMAN: Pwede ka nang mag-comment sa mga artikulo ng KAMI! Subukan mo, madali lang!
Divine Adili's father, Elias Adili, has shared the heartbreaking details of the last conversations he had with his son before the young athlete died in a drowning incident in Aurora.
Source: Facebook
In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online, Elias recalled speaking with Divine just days before the tragedy that claimed the lives of two members of the Ateneo men's basketball team. Incoming rookie Rene Baterbonia also lost his life in the incident.
According to the father, Divine first called him on Saturday to inform him about the team's upcoming training camp in Dipaculao, Aurora. The following day, the 21-year-old athlete contacted him again to say he was already on his way to the activity.
Just a day later, Elias received devastating news.
Like and share our Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Share your thoughts in the comments. We love reading them!
"He called me on Saturday that he was going to camp. On Sunday, he told me he was on the way. Then on Monday, I got the news," Elias recalled.
Instead of another call from his son, he was contacted by a representative from Ateneo, who informed him that Divine had died in a drowning incident.
Elias, who is in Nigeria with their family, described Divine as a loving son and brother who helped provide for their household while chasing his basketball dreams in the Philippines.
As the eldest of four siblings, Divine helped support his family. His father shared that his love for basketball started after watching a local league game in Nigeria. He later pursued the sport in the Philippines, first with New Era University before transferring to Ateneo.
The tragedy has also deeply affected Divine's mother, Ifeoma Joy Adili.
"She has been crying since Monday. The pain is still very deep," Elias shared.
Beyond the grief, the father said he continues to search for answers regarding the incident.
"I still want answers," he said. "Why were there no life jackets? Were the players asked if they knew how to swim? Was the weather properly assessed before they entered the water?"
For now, the family is awaiting the return of Divine's remains to Nigeria.
Earlier, Ateneo de Manila University released a comprehensive update on June 11 regarding the deaths of Blue Eagles players Rene Clert Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili. The university underscored its determination to establish the full truth behind the incident while continuing to provide financial, emotional, and pastoral support to the bereaved families. Ateneo also announced the formation of an independent fact-finding inquiry tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, examining safety procedures, and recommending appropriate actions moving forward.
In a previous report, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Manila released an official statement concerning the death of Chukwuemeka Divine Adili, one of the two Ateneo players who lost their lives during the June 8 incident in Dipaculao, Aurora. The embassy extended its condolences to Adili’s relatives, friends, teammates, and the broader Nigerian community. It also disclosed that it has been working closely with the family, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippine authorities, and other stakeholders while providing consular assistance during the ongoing investigation and preparations for the eventual repatriation of Adili’s remains to Nigeria.
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.
Bagong feature: Tingnan ang mga balitang para sa'yo ➡️ hanapin ang "Recommended for you" block at mag-enjoy!
Source: KAMI.com.gh
