An unforgettable moment for Cebuano fans

CEBU, Philippines — Derrick Rose retired from the NBA nearly two years ago but his star power remains.

And Rose felt all the love and adulation when familiar chants of “MVP! MVP!” echoed almost nonstop when the NBA legend appeared before a massive crowd for the historic “Rose Meets the Queen” event on Wednesday, August 26, at SM Seaside City Cebu.

“I feel like I gotta have some type of Filipino in my blood somewhere,” the basketball icon said. “There’s no way I could come over here and get this much love.”

The reception came on Rose’s fifth visit to the Philippines and his third as an ArenaPlus ambassador in less than a year, part of the brand’s continuing effort to bring major sports personalities and experiences closer to Filipino fans beyond Metro Manila.

“Derrick’s the youngest MVP in NBA history, and his story has inspired millions of fans around the world,” ArenaPlus Head Ethan William said in a pre-recorded message. “We’re excited to bring him closer to his Filipino fans today because that’s what sports do—they bring people together and give us moments we remember long after the game’s over.”

“We want more fans across the Philippines to have moments like this, not just in Metro Manila,” William added.

Rose offered the Cebuanos a glimpse of the former No. 1 overall pick who won Rookie of the Year and made history in 2011 as the NBA’s youngest MVP at 22 by scoring on 13 of 15 attempts during a 30-second shooting contest from the free-throw line against a select influencers.

From the court, Rose made his way to the ArenaPlus city marker, where he added his signature to the installation. He also signed 10 basketballs that later found their way into the hands of raffle winners.

“You all are great fans ... and that’s one of the reasons why I keep coming over here,” Rose said. “You just don’t get this by mistake ... feeling this love, knowing the work that I put in, knowing that I gave it my all. This is what it’s for.”