LIKE most student-athletes, Divine Adili dreamt of finishing his studies, playing professional ball, and making life better for his family back in Nigeria.
Coach Gabby Velasco, the man who paved the way for the Nigerian big man to study and play in the country, said that has been the aspiration of the 6-foot-10 center of Ateneo the moment he arrived in the Philippines back in 2023.
Velasco recalled conversations with Adili would always revolve around his family and his plans for the future during their time together at New Era University, where the 21-year-old player began his varsity career as a member of the school’s junior team.
His former coach at NEU remembers Divine Adili as 'everybody's friend'
“Student-athlete talaga siya. Yun ang pumapasok lagi sa isipan niya that he’s here and he’s going to finish his studies, he’s going to play well, and hopefully, you know, he will go somewhere else. Maganda ang principles niya sa buhay,” the 54-year-old mentor shared to Spin.ph.
“Sabi ko you aim for that, dream for that. So you play well, improve, and develop.”
Velasco remembered encouraging Adili to aspire for a spot in the Nigerian basketball team, considered an emerging power in world basketball, ranked no. 53 by FIBA.
“I told him if you don’t have a professional league there (Nigeria), still go back and represent your country. Who knows? You’ll be able to play for your national team,” he said.
Unfortunately, Adili will no longer be able to pursue or even realize half of his dream following the tragic death that befell him and Ateneo teammate Rene Baterbonia during Ateneo’s training camp in Dipaculao, Aurora last Monday.
Like everyone else, Adili’s father figure and adviser felt devastated the moment the news that he and Baterbonia drowned at the Hermanos Leisure Farm and Surf Camp reached him and his wife.
“Masakit sa loob ko pati sa wife ko because we treated him as a son. I was his adviser, I was his consultant, I was his second father here from the very beginning. Ganun ang papel ko sa kanya,” said Velasco, the architect of St. Francis’ five-peat dynasty in the NCRAA (National Capital and Regional Athletic Association).
“Talagang nakakapang-hinayang, sobrang nakakalungkot.”
Velasco and Adili worked together for two years at New Era, where the Nigerian made a name for himself by winning back-to-back MVPs in the NAASCU (National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, while powering the school to two straight championships in the juniors’ division.
That stint got the attention of other schools.
“So from the very beginning inalam ko rin ang background niya, ano ba ang kanyang dreams, why did he come here,” recalled the former De La Salle Green Archer and long-time deputy of Derrick Pumaren.
“Of course, he always said that he wanted to finish his studies because hindi rin naman sila ganun ka-privileged sa Nigeria. He’s the eldest sa kanilang magkakapatid. Napag-usapan namin lahat yan,” Velasco said.
Humble roots
Adili’s father has a cellphone shop inside a mall in Nigeria as a repairman, while his mother sells jewelry.
His father got sick and had to close the shop, forcing his mother to likewise stop from working in order to tend to her husband.
“Kaya nagbiro nga si Divine na malaki rin yung sister niya and kung gusto namin, puwede niyang papuntahin dito para mag-basketball din,” said Velasco, who also previously coached De La Salle and College of St. Benilde, while serving as deputy coach at Pepsi and Sunkist.
“Talagang very down to earth yan and very humble.”
All of those dreams are now unreachable with Adili’s sudden passing, a moment that hit the veteran coach hard.
What makes Adili’s death heartbreaking was the final call Velasco received from his protegee just two days before the disastrous incident.
Velasco, who had not heard from Adili for a while, got a phone call from the Nigerian on Saturday just after Ateneo’s game against Adamson in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
“For so long, hindi kami nakakapag-usap, pero last Saturday tumawag siya sa akin,” he said, adding Adili told him about not finding the shoe style he promised to give Velasco on the shoe brand the Nigerian was endorsing.
“Sinabihan ko na lang siya na any style basta size ko,” Velasco said even as Adili vowed to give him additional shirts and other apparel.
The two talked for more than 40 minutes and discussed about Adili’s life and his coming sophomore stint with the Blue Eagles.
Velasco was supposed to watch Adili in Ateneo’s next preseason game, but the big man said the team will be off for about a week as it will travel to Baler, Aurora the next day.
“Sabi niya, coach tomorrow (Saturday) we'll be having a team bonding, team building for one week. So we will not be playing in the FilOil (tournament),” Velasco recalled.
“So sinabihan ko siya, ingat and enjoy.”
Less than 48 hours later, Adili would meet his tragic death.
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