It had been 100 days since the tragic passing of Ateneo student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia when the Blue Eagles stepped onto the court for their UAAP Season 89 opener.
With the June 8 tragedy still fresh in everyone’s minds, two faces in the audience joined the Ateneo men’s basketball team in honoring their beloved teammate.
Elias Adili and Ifeoma Joy Adili were in attendance to support their late son’s team as it headed into its first game of the season against the UE Red Warriors.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Prior to tip-off, a minute of silence was observed at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in remembrance of the two Blue Eagles who lost their lives 100 days ago in Dipaculao, Aurora.
It was a solemn way to open a season that will inevitably carry the shadow of the fatal incident as the Blue Eagles try to move forward while keeping alive the memory of their fallen brothers, Adili and Baterbonia.
Adili’s parents arrived on Sunday evening and have already spent significant time with members of the Blue Eagles, meeting various figures from the Ateneo community, including the team, over the past two days.
“We hope their time in Ateneo allows them to remember Divine through the people who knew him, played alongside him, and cared for him,” the school said in a statement on Sunday.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
The Adilis, accompanied by Ateneo president Fr. Bobby Yap, SJ, are also in the Philippines for the first time to watch the Blue Eagles’ opener and their second game on Saturday against the UP Fighting Maroons.
The presence of Adili’s beloved parents served as both a reminder and a source of comfort for the Ateneo men’s basketball team as it embarked on the long road to recovery.
While time will tell how the Blue Eagles navigate the emotional weight of the season, one thing remains certain: every time they step onto the court, the black bands on their shoulders will serve as a reminder of the brothers they carry with them.
