MANILA, Philippines — With the parents of their late teammate Divine Adili — Ifeoma and Elias — watching in the stands, the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles walloped University of the East Red Warriors, 101-74, to kickstart their UAAP Season 89 men's basketball campaign at the Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday.
Adili and teammate Rene Baterbonia drowned in the Blue Eagles' team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8.
One hundred (100) days after the tragedy, the UAAP offered a moment of silence to the late student-athletes before the Ateneo-UE game.
The Blue Eagles pulled away in the second frame with a 24-10 run, flipping a 29-23 lead to a 20-point, 53-33 advantage in the last 1:55 of the first half.
Ateneo continued to pound UE in the second half and led by as many as 38 points, 93-55, following a Mike Asoro three-pointer with 8:55 left in the final canto.
