Adili's father Elias hopes son's Ateneo teammates continue to play: 'I am a fan because of Divine'

The father of the late student-athlete Divine Adili, Elias, hopes Ateneo de Manila University’s men’s basketball team continues to play and remains relentless in pursuing its goals.

Divine passed away on June 8, along with Rene Baterbonia, during a team-building activity in Aurora.

In an interview on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho that aired on Sunday, Elias, who admitted being a fan of the Blue Eagles, said the team plays “with one spirit.”

“My message to Ateneo, they should not relent in what they intend to do. And to the teammates, they should continue to play,” Elias said.

“I am a fan of Ateneo Blue Eagles. I am a fan because of Divine, I have the opportunity of seeing their members, their team. They play with one spirit. So I am encouraging the teammates not to relent in their struggle. And I will be happy if they do.”

Describing his son as wise and friendly, Elias said his family has been struggling to cope with Divine’s death.

Still, they are trying to stay strong as they move forward.

“He has expressed for us the courage to go through difficult things in our lives. And really brave, really brave. And because of that, we are really left helpless. As of now, we are helpless,” he said.

According to Ateneo de Manila University, Divine’s remains arrived in Nigeria on Thursday.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News