Manila welcomes former NBA MVP Derrick Rose for historic third visit this September

 Filipino basketball fans are set for another special treat as former NBA MVP Derrick Rose is scheduled to visit Manila in September 2025, marking his third trip to the country and his first since announcing his retirement in 2024.

Rose, who became the youngest player in history to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award at just 22 years old in 2011, captured global attention during his electrifying early years with the Chicago Bulls.

 His combination of explosive athleticism, fearless drives to the rim, and clutch performances made him one of the most exciting guards of his generation.

The three-time NBA All-Star played 15 seasons in the league, spending most of his prime in Chicago before later suiting up for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies. 

Despite a career interrupted by multiple knee injuries, Rose reinvented himself as a dependable veteran guard, highlighted by his emotional 50-point performance with the Timberwolves in 2018 — a game many fans still consider one of the most inspiring moments of his career.

Rose has also built a special connection with the Philippines over the years. His first visit came in 2011 when he joined Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and other NBA stars for a charity exhibition game in Manila during the league’s lockout. 

He returned in 2013 for his own two-day “Manila Tour,” where thousands of Filipino fans packed gyms and malls to welcome him, underscoring his popularity in a basketball-obsessed nation that has long embraced NBA culture.

Now, more than a decade later, Rose will once again share the court with some of the country’s top basketball names while engaging with the Filipino fans who supported him from his rapid rise in Chicago to his remarkable career comeback stories.

The timing of his return also carries extra significance, as it comes just months before the Chicago Bulls officially retire his No. 1 jersey in January 2026 — a testament to his legacy as one of the franchise’s most beloved stars alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

Rose’s Manila appearance is expected to blend nostalgia with celebration: a chance for fans to relive the prime years of “D-Rose,” while also honoring his journey from MVP to mentor, and his lasting impact on the global basketball community.

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