Divine Adili ‘had a pulse’ when pulled on shore, says Ateneo teammate

FILE–Ateneo center Divine Adili during a game in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.–UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo player Sam Reyes said his teammate, Divine Adili, still “had a pulse” when carried onto shore.

Adili, a Nigerian foreign student-athlete, and incoming rookie Rene Baterbonia died in a drowning incident during the Blue Eagles’ training camp in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8.

In an episode of Let’s Talk with Pia Hontiveros that aired Tuesday, Reyes said he heard from his teammates that Adili still had a pulse. Adili was then rushed to the hospital in a police vehicle after the ambulance carrying Baterbonia had already left.

READ: Ateneo’s Kieffer Alas, Sam Reyes share near-death experiences in Aurora camp

“I heard from my other teammates. After what happened, we were gathering by the pool, and we shared our perspectives on the accident.”

Ateneo guard Kieffer Alas, also part of the podcast, shared that one of their teammates, EJ Kapihe, “was trying to save Divine.”

According to the two, Baterbonia’s body was the first to be found, but that was after a long time underwater. The team’s physical therapist even performed CPR on Baterbonia before he was rushed to the hospital.

“It was just us players. When we saw Rene, it was us who carried him out of the water. Not the first responders, they were just watching us,” Reyes said.

Adili and Baterbonia were taken to Aurora Memorial Hospital but were declared dead on arrival.