Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781248848106UAAP 88 MBB AdU vs. ADMU- Divine Adili-7971.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Late Ateneo basketball player Divine Adili.<em> UAAP Media/file</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The father of Divine Adili is seeking justice for the death of his son in a team-building activity with the Ateneo Men&#x27;s Basketball Team in Dipaculao, Aurora.  </div><p>In a post on social media, Elias Adili lamented the passing of his son, who went to the Philippines from Nigeria to play basketball to help his family.</p><p>&quot;I want justice for my Son Chukwuemeka Divine Adili who along others stood in for Nigeria in all Nation Tournament in Philippines in 2024, Nigeria won he was ranked 6th best, he gave his all to ATENEO BLUES 3rd ranked University in Philippines,&quot; he wrote.</p><p>The elder Adili said the family continues to grieve the tragic loss, as they continue to look for answers surrounding the incident.  </p><p>&quot;Divine your Family is highly pained and devastated by your demise out of carelessness, you evaporated like a steam out of our sight, Divine we miss you and our tears seems endless,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/quiet-but-dependable-divine-adili-s-friends-remember-him-beyond-the-court-1946"><strong>READ: Quiet but dependable: Divine Adili’s friends remember him beyond the court<br/></strong></a></div><p>Ifeoma Adili, the mother of Divine, also told ABS-CBN News they were “disappointed with what happened” to their son and wanted answers.</p><p>&quot;The only thing I want is that they should please explain to me, let me understand. Because as I&#x27;m here now, I cannot even tell exactly what happened to my son,&quot; she said in an interview.</p><p>&quot;I need an answer, I need a clear answer from the Philippines, from Ateneo Blue Eagle, from the coach. Please I just need an answer. Let me know what happen to my son,&quot; Ifeoma added.</p><p>Adili was the family&#x27;s breadwinner and had a lot of dreams he wanted to pursue, his family said. </p><p>&quot;He&#x27;s the only hope of this family, he&#x27;s our only hope. He&#x27;s too hardworking,&quot; Ifeoma said.</p><p>The family requested an autopsy on Adili&#x27;s body, according to the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/12/divine-adili-s-mother-demands-answers-3-days-after-fatal-aurora-drowning-0951"><strong>READ: &#x27;Tell me what happened to my son&#x27;: Divine Adili&#x27;s mother demands answers on fatal Aurora drowning<br/></strong></a></div><p>Adili&#x27;s remains are still at the Arlington Memorial Chapel in Quezon City, as they await the autopsy result and the repatriation to Nigeria.</p><p>The family said they do not have any details yet on when Adili&#x27;s remains will be flown back to his home country.</p><p>A candlelight service described as a Nigerian tradition similar to a wake would be held at the Immaculate Conception Chapel “in prayer and remembrance” for the student-athlete starting on Saturday, June 13.</p><p>The viewing will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a mass at 6 p.m.</p><p>Adili and his teammate Rene Baterbonia died in a drowning incident on Monday during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/drowning-at-ateneo-team-building-activity-what-we-know-so-far-2137"><strong>Drowning at Ateneo team-building activity: What we know so far</strong></a><strong><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/-no-weights-used-in-conditioning-exercise-in-knee-deep-water-says-ateneo-1622">‘No weights’ used in ‘conditioning exercise’ in knee-deep water, says Ateneo</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/baterbonia-s-legal-counsel-hopes-ateneo-allows-players-to-be-interviewed-2316">Baterbonia&#x27;s legal counsel hopes Ateneo allows players to be interviewed</a></strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GhAzUZ_IDBM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fm_u8_Cbi-E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lDedTk7HUsA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The father of Divine Adili is seeking justice for the death of his son in a team-building activity with the Ateneo Men's Basketball Team in Dipaculao, Aurora.</p>

The father of Divine Adili is seeking justice for the death of his son in a team-building activity with the Ateneo Men's Basketball Team in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Adili's father seeks justice for athlete's ‘demise out of carelessness’

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Basketball

Adili's father seeks justice for athlete's ‘demise out of carelessness’

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 12, 2026 03:42 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

Divine Adili

Elias Adili

Aurora tragedy

Ateneo de Manila University

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