Rome Adler de Leon dela Rosa (born December 11, 1990) is a Filipino-American professional basketball player for the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Rome dela Rosa
Dela Rosa with the San Beda Red Lions in 2010
No. 19 – Magnolia Hotshots
PositionSmall forward
LeaguePBA
Personal information
Born (1990-12-11) December 11, 1990 (age 33)
San Diego, California, U.S.
NationalityFilipino / American
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolSamuel Morse (San Diego, California)
CollegeSan Beda
PBA draft2014: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
Selected by the Alaska Aces
Playing career2014–present
Career history
2014–2016Alaska Aces
2016–presentStar/Magnolia Hotshots
Career highlights and awards

Early life

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Dela Rosa grew up in San Diego, California and his favorite sport was originally baseball, where he played as third-baseman and at times catcher. But after years of regularly watching his father play, basketball eventually became his sport of choice.[1][2] The skills he learned with baseball helped him become a solid defender.[2]

College and amateur career

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Dela Rosa played collegiate basketball at San Beda College, where he was a vital cog to four straight NCAA titles for the Red Lions.[3] While in the amateur ranks, he also suited up for the PC Gilmore Wizards[4] and the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA D-League.[1]

Professional career

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Alaska Aces (2014–2016)

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After he played out his college eligibility in 2013, Dela Rosa was drafted in the second round, 13th overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2014 PBA draft.[5] He spent the first two conferences mostly on the bench, acting as a third-stringer to skipper Tony dela Cruz and Calvin Abueva. In the third conference, he was thrust into the starting lineup due to injuries to some players.[6] He started in all 9 games in the Governors’ Cup while seeing a big increase in his minutes (17.7/game). He also doubled his rebounding average to 2.5 RPG and almost tripled his scoring to 4.5 PPG, from less than 1.4 PPG in the first two conferences. On July 5, 2015, in Alaska’s series-clinching 82–77 win over the Star Hotshots, he played the best game of his young career, as he scored 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting in 31:45 minutes of action.[7]

For the 2015–16 season, the Aces made back-to-back finals appearances, but lost each time.[8] Dela Rosa stayed for one more conference with Alaska, the 2016–17 Philippine Cup, but wasn't able to play due to a quadricep injury before being traded.[9]

Star Hotshots (2016–present)

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On December 9, 2016, Dela Rosa was traded by the Alaska Aces to the Star Hotshots in exchange for Jake Pascual.[10] He made his debut in a win over Rain or Shine.[11]

2017–18 season

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In a 2017–18 Philippine Cup win over the NLEX Road Warriors, Dela Rosa had what was then his career-high 14 points with crucial baskets in the fourth quarter.[12] He then scored 17 points on 9-of-10 free throw shooting in a win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters.[13] Against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, he scored 15 points.[14] He set a new career-high once again in a win over the Globalport Batang Pier with 18 points on on 8-of-11 shooting, along with four rebounds, two steals and an assist.[15] That conference, they made the finals against the San Miguel Beermen. In a Game 1 win, he contributed 11 points with two three-pointers.[16] He then had 15 points and nine rebounds in a Game 4 loss.[17] In Game 5, he scored a career-high 19 points and seven rebounds, but Magnolia lost in double overtime.[18] In that finals series, he averaged 11.9 points per game.[19]

In a win over the Batang Pier during the Commissioner's Cup, Dela Rosa scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field.[20] He then scored 19 points by making all six of his shots from the field along with four rebounds, but went 3-of-7 from the free throw line as they lost to Rain or Shine.[21] That conference, they lost to Alaska in the quarterfinals.[22]

Magnolia started the 2018 Governors' Cup with two straight wins, with Dela Rosa providing 17 points in a win over the Batang Pier.[23] During the playoffs, in which they defeated the Blackwater Elite in the first round, he signed a three-year deal to stay with Magnolia.[24] Magnolia made it all the way to the finals, where they won in six games over his former team Alaska.[25] He became the third in his family to win a PBA championship, with his father winning in 1990 and his uncle winning in 1997.[26] That season, he also made the All-Defensive team.[27]

2019 season

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In a win over the Columbian Dyip during the 2019 Philippine Cup, Dela Rosa contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.[28] He then led the team with a conference-high 17 points in a win over Blackwater.[29] In their semis against Rain or Shine, he hit a crucial three-pointer in the last 3:30 of the game that helped Magnolia seize momentum and win Game 7.[30] With the win, they rematched against San Miguel in the finals.[31] Once again, San Miguel won the Philippine Cup in seven games.[32]

In a "Manila Clasico" against Barangay Ginebra, Dela Rosa led the team with 18 points but they still lost their third straight, slipping to 3–4 in the Governors' Cup.[33] They stopped their losing streak against the Dyip, with him contributing 16 points.[34] In that conference, they lost to the TNT Katropa in the first round of the playoffs.[35]

2020 season

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During the 2020 season, Magnolia and Dela Rosa won a Manila Clasico, with him contributing 13 points in the win.[36] They won three straight games during that season.[37] However, they lost in the first round once again, this time to Phoenix.[38]

2021 season

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Dela Rosa got to display his two-way play in a win over Alaska during the Philippine Cup, scoring 12 points on four three-pointers, and making a crucial steal in the final 20.6 seconds of the game that to Ian Sangalang's game-winning basket.[39] In Game 6 of their semis against the Meralco Bolts, he scored 16 points and made five three-pointers, sending Magnolia back to the finals.[40] Although they lost in five game to TNT in that series, he was still rewarded with a new three-year deal.[41]

At the start of the Governors' Cup, Dela Rosa missed its first two weeks due to a hamstring injury.[42] Although he was able to return during the playoffs, the injury limited his production, and Magnolia lost to Meralco in five games.[43]

2022–23 season

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Magnolia started the 2022 Philippine Cup with losses to the Converge FiberXers and TNT. In their third game, against the Batang Pier, Dela Rosa struggled as he couldn't make a single field goal in seven attempts. With 10 seconds left and the game tied 77-all, he scored his first and only three-pointer of the game, getting Magnolia its first win of the season.[44] Against Ginebra, he made a clutch three-pointer that gave Ginebra its first loss of the season.[45] He then dislocated one of his right fingers before getting hit in the head and requiring several stitches.[46] He also suffered an elbow injury that made him sit out a game.[47] During the playoffs, he returned and helped Magnolia get to the semis by beating NLEX.[48]

During the Commissioner's Cup, Dela Rosa missed two games due to typhoid fever.[49] In a Governors' Cup win over the Batang Pier, he scored a season-high 19 points with three triples.[50] He then scored 14 points in a win over Blackwater.[51]

2023–24 season

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In Game 6 of the 2024 Commissioner's Cup finals, Dela Rosa committed a five-second violation in the fourth quarter that led to San Miguel beating Magnolia once again.[52] During the Philippine Cup, he missed six games due to an ankle injury.[53]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

PBA season-by-season averages

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As of the end of 2023–24 season[54]

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2014–15 Alaska 41 12.0 .526 .250 .667 1.6 .5 .4 .0 2.9
2015–16 Alaska 49 10.2 .452 .353 .750 1.4 .6 .3 .0 2.5
2016–17 Star 38 11.6 .414 .217 .583 1.3 .3 .3 2.9
2017–18 Magnolia 57 25.6 .495 .426 .720 3.4 1.0 .7 .1 7.4
2019 Magnolia 53 23.8 .468 .346 .750 3.0 1.1 .7 .1 6.2
2020 Magnolia 11 22.2 .471 .414 .909 2.6 1.0 .8 .1 8.0
2021 Magnolia 35 25.6 .451 .423 .763 3.3 .8 .7 6.2
2022–23 Magnolia 45 24.0 .376 .310 .765 2.4 .7 .5 .1 4.9
2023–24 Magnolia 28 20.9 .400 .275 .667 2.2 .9 .7 4.1
Career 357 15.5 .452 .356 .726 2.4 .8 .5 .0 4.9

College

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[55]

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2009–10 San Beda 21 19.3 .449 .181 .726 2.6 2.0 .3 .0 8.1
2010–11 17 27.3 .525 .000 .747 3.7 2.2 .5 .2 11.4
2011–12 17 22.1 .509 .357 .870 2.0 2.0 .7 .0 9.2
2012–13 21 28.1 .504 .350 .714 3.7 1.1 .4 .1 7.7
2013–14 13 28.6 .546 .000 .618 2.4 1.8 .6 .1 9.2
Career 89 24.8 .503 .222 .740 2.9 1.4 .4 .1 9.0

Personal life

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Dela Rosa is the son of former PBA player Romy dela Rosa, who played in ten seasons with Shell, Sta. Lucia,[56] and the Negros Slashers in the defunct MBA. He is also the nephew of Ruben dela Rosa, also a PBA and MBA player, who was a teammate of former Alaska coach Alex Compton during his time with the Manila Metrostars.[57] His younger brother Ry was drafted by Magnolia during the Season 49 draft.[58]

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References

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  1. ^ a b "ROOKIE DELA ROSA TO FOLLOW IN FOOTSTEPS OF PBA STAR FATHER". AlaskaAces.com.ph. Alaska Aces. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Olivares, Rick. "FROM FASTBALLS TO FASTBREAK: ROME DELA ROSA'S FIELD OF DREAMS IS THE PBA HARDCOURT". PBA.Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  3. ^ Giongco, Mark (June 17, 2014). "NCAA: Preseason favorite San Beda faces huge hole left by Rome de la Rosa". Sports.Inquirer.com. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  4. ^ "D-League: NLEX runs down PC Gilmore, Freego defeats Boracay". InterAksyon.com. InterAksyon. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  5. ^ "2014 PBA Draft Results". InterAksyon.com. August 24, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Giongco, Mark. "Another sub delivers for the Aces, this time it's De La Rosa". PBA.Inquirer.net. Philippine Basketball Association. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  7. ^ Verora, Levi Jr. "Once unused, Dela Rosa now playing big time minutes for Alaska". TiebreakerTimes.com. Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  8. ^ Ramos, Gerry (June 25, 2016). "Aces hope training with US coach Ganon Baker helps end spell of heartbreaks in PBA". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Ramos, Gerry (December 1, 2016). "Thoss, Manuel, Baclao, Exciminiano, dela Rosa, Abueva to miss Alaska game". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (December 9, 2016). "Alaska acquires Jake Pascual to bolster depleted frontcourt in swap with Star for Rome Dela Rosa". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "Dela Rosa hopes to make mark with Star Hotshots". www.pba.ph. December 20, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  12. ^ "Tasked to shadow red-hot Ravena, Rome dela Rosa gets in his own offensive licks". Spin.ph. January 14, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Bacnis, Justine (January 20, 2018). "Paul Lee, Hotshots outlast Fuel Masters to extend win streak to three". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Bacnis, Justine (February 10, 2018). "Raymond Almazan regains groove as Rain or Shine picks up impressive win over Magnolia". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  15. ^ Bacnis, Justine (February 17, 2018). "Even after setting career-high, Rome De La Rosa plans to continue putting in the hard work". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Bacnis, Justine (March 23, 2018). "Hotshots rally from 20 down, stun Beermen to steal Game 1". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  17. ^ Bacnis, Justine (April 4, 2018). "San Miguel escapes Magnolia's clutches, nears fourth straight All-Filipino crown". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "PBA: Party time for San Miguel Beer". Manila Bulletin. April 6, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "Rome dela Rosa: From bit player to reliable defender". www.pba.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  20. ^ Bacnis, Justine (May 12, 2018). "Hotshots escape Batang Pier to bounce back". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (June 3, 2018). "Perfect from field, but not from foul line as Rome dela Rosa typifies Magnolia's free-throw shooting woes". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  22. ^ Pamintuan, Carlo (July 10, 2018). "Alaska fights off Magnolia, books first semis ticket". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  23. ^ Bacnis, Justine (September 1, 2018). "Hotshots rip listless Batang Pier for second straight win". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  24. ^ Ramos, Gerry (November 8, 2018). "After signing 3-year deal, Rome Dela Rosa sets sights on elusive title". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  25. ^ Ramos, Gerry (December 24, 2018). "Rome Dela Rosa ecstatic after title win with Magnolia, feels for former team Alaska". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  26. ^ Bacnis, Justine (December 20, 2018). "Like dad and uncle, Rome De La Rosa now a proud PBA champ too". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  27. ^ Bacnis, Justine (January 13, 2019). "June Mar Fajardo wins historic 5th straight MVP honors". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  28. ^ Bacnis, Justine (March 13, 2019). "Magnolia Hotshots roll to second straight win with Columbian rout". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  29. ^ Terrado, Reuben (March 22, 2019). "Magnolia defensive linchpin Dela Rosa shows off on offense for a change". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "No doubt in Garcia's mind ball still in Dela Rosa's hands as shot clock runs out". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  31. ^ "PBA PH CUP FINALS: A rematch between the best and the best of the rest". pba.ph. April 29, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  32. ^ Leyba, Olmin (May 15, 2019). "Beermen rally to frustrate Hotshots, win 5th straight PBA Philippine Cup crown". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  33. ^ Bacnis, Justine (October 20, 2019). "Brownlee powers Ginebra past Magnolia in Manila Clasico". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  34. ^ Bacnis, Justine (October 27, 2019). "Jio Jalalon steers Magnolia past Columbian to snap skid". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  35. ^ Bacnis, Justine (November 25, 2019). "Parks takes advantage of Magnolia blunder as TNT Katropa dethrone Hotshots". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  36. ^ Bacnis, Justine (October 25, 2020). "Jack Corpuz has his Manila Clasico moment as Magnolia snaps Ginebra's streak". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  37. ^ Bacnis, Justine (November 5, 2020). "Paul Lee torches Terra Firma as Magnolia rolls to third straight win". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  38. ^ Bacnis, Justine (November 14, 2020). "Wright puts up MVP-caliber outing vs Magnolia, carries Phoenix to PBA Bubble semis". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  39. ^ Bacnis, Justine (July 22, 2021). "Victolero proud that Rome Dela Rosa has become an offensive cog as well". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  40. ^ Bacnis, Justine (October 15, 2021). "Magnolia eliminates Meralco, advances to PBA Finals". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  41. ^ Ramos, Gerry (November 27, 2021). "Magnolia inks Rome dela Rosa to fresh, three-year contract". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  42. ^ Terrado, Reuben (February 11, 2022). "James Laput to undergo surgery; Dela Rosa out with hamstring injury". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  43. ^ Ramos, Gerry (May 29, 2022). "Magnolia keeps lineup intact with Brill, De Leon contract extensions". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  44. ^ MICALLER, BEA (June 15, 2022). "Rome Dela Rosa game-winner lifts Magnolia past NorthPort for win no. 1". GMA News Online. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  45. ^ Ramos, Gerry (June 20, 2022). "Cone admits Ginebra outplayed, outworked by a desperate Magnolia side". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  46. ^ Ramos, Gerry (June 25, 2022). "Rome de la Rosa on two injuries suffered: 'Malayo sa bituka'". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  47. ^ Ramos, Gerry (July 15, 2022). "Hotshots hope to get Rome Dela Rosa back in harness soon". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  48. ^ Bacnis, Justine (July 31, 2022). "PBA: Jalalon takes over in clutch, carries Magnolia to semis showdown vs TNT". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  49. ^ Terrado, Reuben (October 13, 2022). "Why Ian Sangalang, Rome dela Rosa have been sitting out". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  50. ^ Bolima, Martin Dale (March 2, 2023). "Defense-first Rome dela Rosa thriving in Magnolia's equal-opportunity system". onesports.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  51. ^ Bacnis, Justine (March 8, 2023). "PBA: Abueva enters 5k club as Magnolia romps Blackwater to stay alive in Top 4 race". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  52. ^ MICALLER, BEA (February 15, 2024). "Magnolia coach Chito Victolero rues 'mental lapses' in Game 6 collapse". GMA News Online. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  53. ^ Terrado, Reuben (April 25, 2024). "Jio Jalalon to miss Magnolia grudge match vs SMB due to knee injury". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  54. ^ "Rome de la Rosa Player Profile, Magnolia Hotshots - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  55. ^ "DE LA ROSA,ROME ADLER D. » inboundpass.com – Covering Philippine college basketball". Archived from the original on August 27, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  56. ^ "PBA-bound Rome dela Rosa says pressure inevitable as he follows in dad Romy's footsteps". Spin.ph. August 11, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  57. ^ Joble, Rey. "Alaska coach Alex Compton credits others for finding undervalued gems like Vic Manuel, Rome Dela Rosa". InterAksyon.com. Sports5. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  58. ^ "Ry Dela Rosa ready to make name for himself in PBA". GMA News Online. July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.