Home at last: Divine Adili laid to rest in Nigeria
Published Jun 27, 2026 12:41 pm
At A Glance
- Nearly three weeks after he and teammate Rene Baterbonia tragically passed away, Ateneo big man Divine Adili was laid to rest in his hometown of Umueri, Nigeria on Friday, June 26.
(Nwozor-Mabia Ogonna Grace Facebook post)
He’s finally home.
Nearly three weeks after he and teammate Rene Baterbonia tragically passed away, Ateneo big man Divine Adili was laid to rest in his hometown of Umueri, Nigeria on Friday, June 26.
Family, friends, and members of the local community gathered to pay their final respects, many wearing T-shirts bearing Adili’s image, as the 21-year-old -- fondly known as the “Gentle Giant” -- was laid to rest in his hometown.
Adili's aunt, Nwozor-Mabia Ogonna Grace, shared photos from the burial ceremony, offering a glimpse of the final farewell.
The 6-foot-10 standout was laid to rest 20 days after his passing, following weeks of waiting as his remains stayed in the Philippines while Ateneo completed the necessary repatriation documents and held a wake in his honor.
On Wednesday, June 24, the former New Era University standout was flown to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he was transferred to a direct flight bound for his hometown in Nigeria.
Adili bannered the Ateneo’s campaign in UAAP Season 88 where he played a pivotal role in the Blue Eagle’s impressive 4-0 start despite missing several games because of a lingering back injury.
Among his standout performances was a dominant outing against University of the East on Nov. 5, where he tallied 15 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block to power Ateneo to a 78-74 victory over the Precious Momowei-led Red Warriors.
Francis Nnoruka of University of the Philippines also paid tribute to Adili, honoring his compatriot following his passing.
“It’s really hard to process… he’s more than a friend to me, he’s more like my brother,” said Nnoruka.
Meanwhile, Baterbonia was laid to rest on Wednesday, June 24, in his hometown of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, where thousands of residents joined his family in bidding a final farewell to the Palarong Pambansa Most Valuable Player.
According to autopsy reports, both Adili and Baterbonia died from asphyxia due to drowning.
Investigations into the incident remains ongoing with resigned head coach Tab Baldwin, along with several members of the coaching staff and players receiving subpoenas from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The Philippine National Police (PNP), on the other hand, has recommended the filing of charges against several members of the team.