Dikachi Udodo remembers friend Divine Adili: 'Always been very funny'

Friends and fellow players of the two Ateneo student-athletes who died in a drowning incident attended the wake of Rene Baterbonia at the Arlington Memorial Chapels on Thursday.

READ MORE | Ateneo recruit Rene Baterbonia, foreign student athlete Divine Adili die in drowning incident

Among them were former UP men’s basketball player Dikachi Udodo, who remembered his friend and fellow Nigerian, Chukwuemeka Divine Adili, one of the two who passed away.

“I was just devastated. I was just hoping that someone would reach out and say it’s a joke or something. It’s unbelievable, still is right now,” Udodo told GMA News’ JP Soriano.

“He’s just a good friend, he’s just a good guy. There’s nothing bad to say about him, it’s all good.”

Udodo said that he will remember Adili as someone who loved to make jokes.

“I remember knowing him from home. Playing in tournaments, against him or as teammates with him,” he said.

He’s always been very funny. We have lots of laughs every time. We’re always having this banter with each other. We’re always going at each other, making jokes. We like to play cards.”

In a earlier interview with GMA News Online, Adili's father Elias also spoke glowingly of his late son.

"He's a very good boy. He has a good character, good manner, very gentle. And he plays basketball very well. He's well-mannered, well-cultured. He respects people. And he takes care of his siblings," Elias shared.

READ MORE | 'Disheartened, disappointed': Divine Adili's father Elias shares last conversation with son before drowning tragedy

Elias is calling for justice following his son's death.

—JMB, GMA News