Who was Divine Adili, Ateneo Blue Eagles' Nigerian big man who died in a drowning incident
Two Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes passed away in a tragic drowning incident on June 8.
Young players Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili lost their lives while the team was on a team-building trip in Dipaculao, Aurora. Their careers with the men's basketball team were only beginning, with 19-year-old rising star Baterbonia just training to play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 89 when he passed away.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old foreign student-athlete Adili made his mark in UAAP Season 88, helping the Ateneo Blue Eagles kick things off with a 4-0 run. The blue-and-white team, however, failed to reach the final four, finishing with a 6-8 record.
As police continue their probe into the two student-athletes' passing, let's get to know Divine Adili.
'Next great big man'
Adili, who hails from Nigeria, stands at 6-foot-10. Before joining the Blue Eagles, he played for the New Era Junior Hunters, nabbing the National Athletic Association of Schools Colleges and Universities in 2023—in which he earned the MVP title—and 2024.
In 2025, he was on track to be Ateneo's next great center as he helped the Blue Eagles start UAAP Season 88 strong. His run, though, was hampered by nagging back issues, causing him to miss three games. When he returned, the Nigerian big man helped the blue-and-white regain their footing and end their five-game slump.
"I always wanna give 100%," he said after the Nov. 5, 2025 game, where he made his comeback. "No excuses from me. As long as I'm able to go out there and run, just expect 100%."
Adili averaged 8.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in the 11 games he played.
He loved SpongeBob
Adili, as it turns out, was a gentle giant. In a November 2025 interview with ONE News the Nigerian player shared that he loved SpongeBob SquarePants.
"I love SpongeBob. It helps me relax when I feel tense. Like I just watch it, and it's more about the personality of SpongeBob. He's just happy, he doesn't really care, he just does his thing—show up to work, he's always happy, and [it] just revolves around that," he said.
His Instagram username is actually @adilidivine__spongebob, and his profile picture is SpongeBob in an Ateneo jersey bearing his no. 14.
A beloved friend
Several of Adili's teammates from the Ateneo Blue Eagles and New Era University, as well as his friends, paid tribute to the late player.
"My brother. You know how much you meant to me. I love you," Ateneo teammate Shawn Tuano captioned in an Instagram story of a selfie with Adili.
Ateneo Blue Eagles' women's volleyball player Dona Mae De Leon, meanwhile, shared sweet photos with Adili.
"I just know that you were the kindest and most loving person I have ever known.
The Philippine National Police Aurora has said that there were no signs of foul play in the drowning incident that killed Baterbonia and Adili.
"Natural accident po ang pangyayari, 'di po talaga inaasahan. At sa ngayon, wala po tayong nakikitang foul play," Police Col. Percivel R. Pineda said in a press conference on June 9.
Authorities said that the team was holding an activity along the beach when the two players were carried by a strong current into deep waters.