CEBU, Philippines — Derrick Rose may have retired from the NBA nearly two years ago, but a packed SM Seaside City Cebu greeted him on Wednesday afternoon, August 26, as if he had never left.
Familiar chants of “MVP! MVP!” echoed almost nonstop as ArenaPlus brought Rose before Cebuano fans for “Rose Meets the Queen: Derrick Rose in Cebu,” his first public appearance in the city a day after meeting ArenaPlus VIPs at the exclusive Champion’s Circle Appreciation Dinner.
“I feel like I gotta have some type of Filipino in my blood somewhere,” Rose 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,” he added. “Today, it’s Cebu’s turn.”
Rose made the moment more personal by giving the Cebuano crowd something of their own, drawing another roar when he called out, “Shagit ug kusog!” (“Make some noise!”)
Before Rose took the floor, four teams of influencers battled in 3×3 games, with representatives later earning the chance to go up against him in the “Shoot Like a Legend” challenge—a 30-second shooting contest from the free-throw line.
Rose quickly found his rhythm, scoring on 13 of 15 attempts in 30 seconds and offering Cebu a glimpse of the former No. 1 overall pick who won Rookie of the Year and made history in 2011 as the league’s youngest MVP at 22.
Marc Malazarte of Team Bourama came closest with nine points and earned an ArenaPlus basketball signed by the former MVP.
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.
Fans also took home three Apple Watches, three AirPods Pro, two iPads, one MacBook Neo, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max through the afternoon’s raffle draws, before Filipino hip-hop artist Skusta Clee capped the festivities with performances of hits including “Pauwi Na ’Ko,” “Rosas,” and “Sa Susunod Na Lang.”
“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.”
About DigiPlus
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. pioneered digital entertainment in the Philippines. It introduced the leading platforms BingoPlus and ArenaPlus, widely known for their engaging interactive gaming and sports entertainment experiences. DigiPlus also operates GameZone, with more to come. For more information, visit www.digiplus.com.ph.
About ArenaPlus
ArenaPlus is a PAGCOR-licensed sportsbook open to players aged 21 and above. Gambling does not guarantee earnings or financial gains — always have a game plan and play within your means. If you’d like tools to manage your play, visit ArenaPlus’s Responsible Gaming page, or contact PAGCOR at (02) 8522-0299 / www.pagcor.ph/regulatory/responsible-gaming.php. Gambling can be addictive — know when to stop.
