NBA icon, former MVP Derrick Rose returns to Manila after 12 years

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Chicago Bulls legend and 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose visits Manila for the first time since 2013

MANILA, Philippines – Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose is set to return to the country on Thursday, September 18, to fulfill several engagements with fans and corporate sponsors.

Rose, who last went to the Philippines in 2013, will be named brand ambassador in an event dubbed “Rose Above the Odds” at One Ayala in Makati City.

Aside from fan and media events, Rose will record a live podcast episode, where he is expected to share his personal and professional journey of rising from poverty to becoming a beloved basketball figure.

Fellow ArenaPlus ambassadors Scottie Thompson and RJ Abarrientos of the PBA’s Barangay Ginebra, and PVL libero Dani Ravena of Akari, will also grace the event of the sports online gaming platform.

The former NBA star guard, known for his above-the-rim play, announced his retirement from basketball last year.

Picked first overall by his hometown team Chicago Bulls, Rose became the second-ever MVP of the franchise in 2011, following five-time award winner Michael Jordan.

His No. 1 jersey will be retired by the Bulls on January 24, 2026, as Rose becomes just the fifth player in franchise history to be bestowed the huge honor.

During the NBA lockout in 2011, Rose, alongside fellow stars such as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Chris Paul, played in a series of exhibition games at the Araneta Coliseum, where the 6-foot-1 guard endeared himself to Filipinos.

Rose also won two gold medals representing USA Basketball in the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cups. – Rappler.com