MANILA – One hundred days since the deaths of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia, the Ateneo Blue Eagles carried the memory of their fallen teammates as they opened their UAAP Season 89 campaign on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Elias and Ifeoma Adili, the parents of Adili, were in attendance sitting behind the bench of the Blue Eagles and beside Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Roberto "Bobby" Yap SJ.
Before the game against University of the East tipped off, a moment of silence was offered in memory of Divine and Rene, while the Blue Eagles wore jerseys with special patches bearing the jerseys of their fallen teammates.
Ateneo went on to clobber the Red Warriors, 101-74.
The parents of Adili appreciated the tributes and the warm welcome, but said they wished they were in the Philippines for a different purpose.
READ: Ateneo dismantles UE to honor Bobet, Divine 100 days after Aurora tragedy
"I'm delighted to be here. But I wish I am watching my son. I really appreciate what I see because I know that my son is there. Divine and Rene, they are there. They might be invisible, but I know my son is there. But I wish to come to the Philippines to watch my son play because that's what I've been desiring," Ifeoma said.
"I believe the game is for Divine and Rene. And we are supposed to watch Divine play. He promised us that, but he's now caught short.... Divine made us to be fine off Ateneo. He took us to a new era and brought us to Ateneo. And we have ever supported Ateneo. It's unfortunate what happened, happened. And I pray for the soul to rest in peace," Elias added.
The father of Adili said the main reason for their visit to the Philippines is to find out the truth of what happened to Divine.
"We are here on fact-finding. We have seen clips of what happened, and that is why we are here. So it's fortunate they have a game which they want us also to watch, which we too want to watch," Elias shared.
The parents of Divine Adili, Ifeoma and Elias, watch the Ateneo Blue Eagles game against University of the East in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament, September 16, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Ahead of Ateneo's season opener, Adili's parents were able to meet and speak with the Blue Eagles to talk about the tragic incident in Aurora.
"They explained everything. We saw clips, clips from some people, how they too escaped, how they too saved their own lives, how Divine and Rene couldn't make it. And we heard from them. We heard from them. That was our purpose of coming to see the team, to talk with them, to tell us the truth," Elias shared.
After hearing directly from Divine's teammates, the parents of Adili said they can go back to Nigeria with a clearer picture of what happened to their son.
The parents of Adili said they heard from resigned Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin following the incident, but have not spoken to him again recently.
"It's only the truth that will set you free. So we have known the truth. And I think I can now go back to my kinsmen and tell them that this is what happened. Because we too are being bashed at home from our tradition. And a father burying the son is a taboo," he shared.
"So it's a thing of pain. It's a thing of shame to us. Because all along, different stories were coming up. And today, now I can authoritatively tell them. This was what happened," Elias added.
Ateneo earlier said the Adili family will watch the first two games of the Blue Eagles and be with members of the team.
"We hope their time in Ateneo allows them to remember Divine through the people who knew him, played alongside him, and cared for him. May their visit be a meaningful one, surrounded by the community that continues to hold Divine, Rene, and their families close," the University said in a statement.