ELIAS Adili, father of the late Divine Adili, has taken to social media to demand justice following the tragic death of his son.
Divine, 21, and 19-year-old Rene Baterbonia drowned during an Ateneo Blue Eagles team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
“I want justice for my son, Chukwuemeka Divine Adili,” Elias wrote in a public post.
“Divine, your family is deeply pained and devastated by your demise out of carelessness; you vanished like steam before our eyes. Divine, we miss you, and our tears seem endless.”
Before joining Ateneo, Adili made his mark with the New Era University Junior Hunters, leading them to back-to-back NAASCU championships from 2024 to 2025 while earning Most Valuable Player honors in both seasons under head coach Den Velez.
He later transferred to Ateneo, where he averaged 8.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 11 games during his rookie campaign.
The 6-foot-10 standout also contributed to the Blue Eagles’ strong 4-0 start in UAAP Season 88, signaling a promising turnaround after the team’s eighth-place finish the previous season.
Adili’s budding career was abruptly cut short following the incident during a team-building activity organized by the Ateneo men’s basketball management.
In the aftermath, his family in Nigeria has requested the repatriation of his remains to their homeland for a traditional burial. The Nigerian Embassy has also called for an autopsy prior to any arrangements.
“The Embassy has been in direct contact with the family of the deceased, Ateneo de Manila University, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant authorities,” the embassy said in a statement.
“The family has requested that an autopsy be conducted before arrangements for the repatriation of Mr. Adili’s remains to Nigeria are finalized. The Embassy is providing all necessary consular assistance and support in this regard.”
As of writing, further response from Adili’s father is still being awaited.
