JUST a few months ago, former New Era University head coach Den Velez stood inside Moro Lorenzo Gym watching a familiar sight unfold.
The tactician who guided Ateneo foreign student-athlete Divine Adili to back-to-back championships and MVP awards in high school was finally seeing his former star healthy once more.
After spending most of UAAP Season 88 enduring a lower back injury, the 6-foot-10 center was eager to make up for lost time.
Velez even flew from Bacolod to watch Adili train, and based on what he saw, it only bolstered his belief in what was to come.
“He said he’s 100-percent healthy and raring to go. That’s why I was also excited to see what he can do this upcoming season,” he told SPIN.ph.
Unfortunately, that conversation has just become a memory he has to hold on to following the tragic passing of Adili during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
“My initial reaction was disbelief. Too young and too early,” he said.
Without a doubt, the tragedy is difficult to process not only because of the relationship they built, but also because of the future that seemed well within reach.
“Sobrang nanghihinayang talaga. Last season, he was injured the whole season. I was expecting him to dominate this year,” he said.
New Era's new star
Few understood Adili’s potential better than his former coach.
During their two years together at New Era, the Nigerian emerged as one of the most dominant players in NAASCU Juniors.
But much more the player, Velez remembers the person he coached every day.
As he put, “Divine is a gentle giant. Friendly at palabiro sa teammates niya. He was everybody’s friend.”
For two years under his watch, Adili never gave him cause for concern.
“He goes to class religiously. He is also a devout Catholic. For two years under my watch, I never encountered any problem with Divine inside and outside the court,” he said.
“He was so focused in improving his craft. He was so dedicated that I didn’t need to motivate him.”
And even during setbacks, that character remained unchanged.
“The therapists at the rehab center loved him. They all wanted Divine to recover quickly,” he said, recalling a time when the young talent was nursing an injury.
Adili's adieu
For Velez, all of that is a reflection of how easily Adili connected with people.
The same warmth was on display during what would later become their final meeting.
Last March, Velez brought players from Bacolod Tay Tung and University of St. La Salle to watch Ateneo train.
Adili was, true to his identity, the first to welcome them.
“He talked to my players, joked around with some of them, exchanged stories about their experiences under me. For a short period of time, he bonded with my players,” he said.
Before they parted ways, coach and player shared one final exchange - words Velez still remembers clearly.
“Take care of your health, coach. Help those kids of yours, train them well. I wanna see them play in Manila soon. Love you, coach,” he said.
For the shot-caller, those words now carry a weight he never expected.
A player who had finally returned to full health. A former MVP ready for his breakout year. A gentle giant whose presence lifted everyone around him. And a career that ended long before it had the chance to unfold.
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