Tragedy has struck the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball community with the sudden death of Israel Osamudiame Friday, a 19-year-old Nigerian recruit for the University of the Philippines (UP) men’s basketball team. Friday collapsed during a training session on Tuesday, August 19, and passed away despite medical efforts to revive him.

The UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development confirmed the incident in a statement released Wednesday, August 20, noting that the 6-foot-10 center was rushed to a nearby hospital following his collapse but could not be saved. The cause of death remains under investigation.

Friday, who recently transferred from Centro Escolar University (CEU) where he was a standout for the Scorpions in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League, was in the midst of his residency period with UP. His death comes just two months after the passing of 18-year-old Ashlyn Abong, a National University girls’ team player and Gilas Pilipinas Youth member, who also died following a collapse during practice.