Derrick Rose is heading to Cebu for a two-day basketball celebration

A much-anticipated event for Cebuano basketball fans.

Former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose is set to make his first visit to Cebu as ArenaPlus brings the basketball icon to the Queen City of the South for a two-day celebration on August 25 and 26.

Dubbed “Rose Meets the Queen: Derrick Rose in Cebu,” the event marks Rose’s third visit to the Philippines as an ArenaPlus brand ambassador but his first in Cebu, one of the country’s biggest basketball hotbeds.

The celebration begins August 25 with the exclusive Champion’s Circle Appreciation Dinner, where select ArenaPlus players will have the opportunity to meet and interact with Rose in a more intimate setting.

The following day, August 26, the celebration opens to more Cebuano basketball fans at SM Seaside City Cebu.

Activities begin at 11 AM, with basketball activities, giveaways and entertainment scheduled throughout the day. Admission is free and open to guests 21 years old and above.

ArenaPlus said bringing Rose outside Metro Manila is part of its effort to create major sports experiences for fans across the country and strengthen local basketball communities.

“Sports have always been about more than what happens on the court. They bring people together and give fans a community where they can share the moments that make the game special,” ArenaPlus Head Ethan William said.

“That’s why we want to bring experiences like this closer to fans across the country, not just in Metro Manila. Cebu has an incredible passion for basketball, and bringing Derrick here is one way for us to celebrate that community and give Cebuano fans an experience they can call their own,” he added.

Rose became the youngest MVP in NBA history when he won the award in 2011 at age 22 after leading the Chicago Bulls to a league-best 62-20 regular-season record. The three-time NBA All-Star announced his retirement from professional basketball in 2024 after a 16-season career.

The Cebu festivities will continue into the afternoon before Filipino rapper and singer Skusta Clee takes the stage for a performance, capping the two-day celebration with a mix of basketball, music and fan activities.

For Cebuano basketball fans, “Rose Meets the Queen” offers a rare opportunity to welcome one of the NBA’s most recognizable stars as Rose makes his much-anticipated first appearance in the Queen City of the South.

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