FAR away from home, Divine Adili found a family in Ateneo.
Beginning Saturday, that family gathers to say goodbye to the gone-too-soon Blue Eagle.
The Ateneo community is currently holding a candlelight service - a Nigerian tradition similar to a wake - Adili at the Immaculate Conception Chapel inside the Loyola Heights campus, allowing teammates, classmates, coaches, friends, and supporters to pay their final respects.
The wake comes days after a tragedy claimed the lives of Adili and Rene Baterbonia following a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora - losses that have echoed not only within the blue-and-white walls, but also among those who knew him beyond the University’s gates.
READ: Tab Baldwin on Ateneo tragedy: 'To the depth of my being, I'm sorry'
In announcing arrangements, Ateneo reflected on the journey that brought the foreign student-athlete into the lives of countless people in the Philippines.
“Divine Adili’s journey brought him far from home, but along the way he found teammates, classmates, coaches, and friends who came to know and love him,” the University said on a social media post.
“We remember Divine with affection and gratitude, and grieve with all those who loved him - in the Philippines, in Nigeria, and beyond.”
More than a basketball player, the 6-foot-10 big was remembered as someone whose presence brought joy to the people around him.
“He made a lasting impact through the warmth of his presence, the friendships he formed, and the joy he brought to the communities he became part of,” the post continued.
Assist for the Adilis
That sentiment has become increasingly evident in the days following his passing.
Among those leading efforts to support Adili’s loved ones is fellow Nigerian Prince Eze, the former NCAA MVP and Perpetual star who initiated a donation drive for his good friend and his family.
The gesture served as a reminder of the unique brotherhood shared by FSAs who leave their homes in pursuit of opportunities in the Philippines.
Like Adili, Eze once arrived in the country carrying dreams bigger than basketball.
Now, he is helping ensure that a countryman who followed a similar path will not be mourned alone.
The support has stretched beyond schools, leagues, and rivalries, uniting members of the basketball community in grief and remembrance.
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