Rose: 2011 Manila stint ‘best All-Star Game I’ve played in’
Derrick Rose made his way back to Manila, where fans got to see him in the flesh—with some of them lucky enough to snag an autograph from the NBA legend.
Rose returned to the country for the third time, with his first visit being the memorable two-game exhibition series along with a collection of NBA stars at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“That was probably the best All-Star Game I’ve played in,” Rose told a handful of reporters during a short media availability granted by Arena Plus, which signed the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player as an ambassador.
That was the same year when he, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, James Harden and company faced a PBA selection before taking on the original Gilas Pilipinas squad that saw the Big Dome packed to the rafters on both occasions.
What made the event special was the presence of Manny Pacquiao, who was approached by the touring NBA stars who came over at the height of the league’s lockout, which also paved the way for them to play those games.
“Wanting to be in that all-star game and the fans being a part of it and Pacquiao coming, it just added on to the game and added on to the story. And at that time, it was during the lockout,” Rose recalled.
“So at that time, we were creating a concept or a paradigm that could have lasted if the lockout would have continued. So it was kind of cool being a part of it,” added Rose, who is grateful to have been invited by Manny Pangilinan, who backed the exhibition series.
Rose returned in 2013 for a promotional tour before arriving for his latest sojourn here last Tuesday.
A few fans were able to get a chance to have some of their mementos signed by Rose, like a replica of his famous Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks jerseys, cards and shirts.
In an event held at One Ayala in Makati City, some fans got a chance to have a photo with Rose, who graciously accommodated as many requests as possible.
The 36-year-old star from Chicago played 16 seasons with the Bulls, and two with the Knicks, and also had stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies in a career that ran from 2008 to 2024.
Rose is currently taking an active part in promoting freestyle chess along with world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.
