Nigerian center Divine Adili still had a pulse when he was pulled from the waters off Dipaculao, Aurora, according to an Ateneo basketball player who witnessed the tragic drowning that claimed two young lives this week. Sam Reyes, a third year Blue Eagle, made the revelation during his first public statement about the incident that has devastated the university community and sent shockwaves through Philippine collegiate sports.
Reyes spoke alongside rookie teammate Kieffer Alas on a Tuesday podcast appearance, providing the most detailed account yet of what transpired when three massive waves struck their group last Monday. Both Adili, 21, and fellow victim Rene Baterbonia, 18, were found and rescued approximately 30 minutes after being swept away, but were pronounced dead on arrival at Aurora Memorial Hospital. Reyes said he learned about Adili’s condition from other teammates who had gathered at the scene after the rescue operation. Baterbonia, meanwhile, already showed signs of severe oxygen deprivation with purple lips visible as first responders performed CPR on the beach before rushing him to a separate vehicle.
The emotional toll on survivors has been profound, with Reyes expressing deep guilt over his proximity to Baterbonia during the crisis. He was among those carried farthest from shore when the waves split the team into separate groups scattered across the water. “I feel guilt because Rene was beside me and I felt I could have done more to prevent him from drowning. It’s eating me alive,” Reyes said during the interview. His words captured the anguish felt by teammates who survived while two of their own perished in what should have been a team bonding experience.
Alas, who admitted he does not know how to swim, described his own brush with death in terrifying detail. He clung to the shoulders of 6 foot 10 teammate Malcolm Tyler while attempting to doggy paddle through the churning waters, spending at least 20 seconds submerged beneath the surface. “I was going to accept that I might not make it. Thankfully Malcolm moved a bit c to me,” Alas recalled, his account underscoring how close the tragedy came to claiming additional lives. Tyler’s height and strength may have been the difference between life and death for the young player.
Police authorities have confirmed that strong currents swept the players away and have urged the public to refrain from speculation about the circumstances. The incident occurred when three successive waves broke over the group, splitting the Blue Eagles into different units across a dangerous stretch of water. What began as a team outing descended into chaos within moments, leaving some players fighting for their lives while others desperately searched for missing teammates. Reyes described the aftermath as psychologically devastating, noting that while they survived physically, the trauma of losing two brothers continues to haunt them.
The tragedy has prompted renewed discussions about water safety protocols for university sports teams and the risks of ocean swimming in areas with unpredictable conditions. Aurora’s coastline, while beautiful, is known for sudden ces in wave patterns and strong undercurrents that can catch even experienced swimmers off guard. As Ateneo mourns and the wider collegiate athletics community processes this loss, questions remain about how such outings should be supervised and what safety measures might prevent similar trages. For now, a campus grieves two young men whose lives ended far too soon, while their teammates struggle with survival, guilt, and the impossible task of moving forward.
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