Father of Deceased Ateneo Player Urges Team to Keep Playing as Investigations Continue

Elias Adili, father of Divine Adili, urged the Ateneo Blue Eagles to continue playing basketball after receiving his son's remains in Nigeria on June 25. Divine Adili and teammate Rene Baterbonia died on June 8 during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, an event that also endangered other Ateneo players.

Rappler reported that Elias Adili told GMA's Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho that he supports the team moving forward.

“My message to Ateneo, they should not relent in what they intend to do. And to the teammates, they should continue to play,” he said. He added that he became a fan of the Blue Eagles because of his son and admired how the players competed with one spirit.

Elias described Divine as friendly and insightful. “He makes me understand his feelings … He makes me understand everything about him. I really miss him a lot. I miss seeing him. I miss him a lot in my life,” he said.

Divine’s mother Ifeoma and the rest of the Adili family joined Elias to receive the remains. Investigations by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group into the two deaths remain ongoing, Rappler reported.