MANILA, Philippines — Den Velez, Divine Adili’s first coach in the Philippines at New Era University, said the late basketball standout was like a son to him, expressing deep heartbreak and devastation upon learning of the tragic incident last Monday.
Speaking to The Manila Times, Velez shared that Adili, 21, gave his all in every training session and game, fueled by his determination to provide a better life for his family.
“He was very hardworking. His focus was on achieving his goal to succeed. He knew basketball would be the key to lift his family out of poverty,” Velez said.
“Divine is like my son. From the first day he arrived in the Philippines, I took care of him. It really hurts that he’s gone. Our word for it is ‘sayang’—too soon, too early.”
Velez last saw Adili in March 2026 during a training session, where they spoke about his prospects for the upcoming UAAP season.
“I was optimistic about his UAAP campaign. He had been injured the previous year, but he was better this time. I was eager to see how he would match up against other imports because I believed he was ready to dominate,” he said.
He also recalled Adili’s close relationship with his family, noting how often he stayed in touch with them.
“He constantly called his father and mother and always asked for his father’s advice. I remember when he got sick during his first few days here—we followed his father’s instructions,” Velez said, referring to Adili’s bout with dengue.
Adili was a two-time NAASCU Most Valuable Player (MVP), leading New Era University to back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.
The 6-foot-10 Nigerian later transferred to Ateneo de Manila University, where he averaged 8.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 11 games during his rookie season.
Amid the ongoing speculation surrounding the deaths of Adili and fellow player Rene Baterbonia, Velez urged the public to wait for the results of the investigation.
“I believe this was an accident. To Filipino basketball fans, let’s wait for the investigation. It hurts those of us who knew Divine. We want his soul to rest, but we will wait. Whatever the outcome, that’s when I will make my judgment,” he said.
“For Divine, big guy, rest easy. Keep on balling up there. Your coaches and teammates love you. We want to remember him for who he was—not for what happened.”
