Kacey Dela Rosa has been on a tear in recent months, with her rise marked by dominant performances across multiple stages.
Last December, she delivered 17.0 points and 16.0 rebounds in the finals against host Thailand, steering the Philippines to a gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. She stood as a pillar of strength for Gilas Pilipinas, averaging 20.25 points, 11.25 rebounds, and nearly three blocks per game.
During the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Villeurbanne, France, last March, the 22-year-old held her own against bigger, tougher competition while still producing impressive numbers. She finished as the third-leading scorer with 15.6 points per game and ranked second in field goal percentage at 62.2%.
She also topped all players in rebounds with 8.6 per game and led in blocks with 2.2 per outing.
Then this April, Dela Rosa helped Gilas Pilipinas secure its best-ever silver finish in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2026.
A week later, she made history again, powering the Philippines to clinch one of three slots in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 set this June in Poland.
Where she was once known mainly within the Ateneo community — where she is a senior taking up Interdisciplinary Studies — and among avid followers of women’s basketball, Dela Rosa is now gaining recognition from Filipino fans nationwide.
It is something she is still getting used to.
“Minsan may makakasalubong ako. Sasabihin niya, ‘Puwede bang magpa-picture?’ Medyo nahihiya pa rin ako minsan,” she admitted.
BUILT BY TONDO
The 6-foot-1 Dela Rosa has long been the tallest among her peers.
It was only natural that she was first steered toward volleyball in grade school at Holy Child Catholic School in Tondo, but the sport never truly resonated with her.
Basketball had always been her first love, even if her school did not have a girls’ team.
She learned the game outside their home in Bangkusay, where a neighbor spotted her raw yet promising talent and encouraged her to try out for Chiang Kai Shek, one of the country’s top high school programs.
The school’s pedigree is evident — four members of the UAAP Elite Team in the past seasons came from its ranks: Dela Rosa, National University’s MVP Ann Pingol, Tin Cayabyab, and Angel Surada.
The tryout she expected never happened.
When the Blue Dragons coaching staff saw her — already standing at 5-foot-7 in Grade 8 — they immediately offered her a spot on the team.
With no formal training, Dela Rosa became a sponge, absorbing the nuances of the game and thriving in her first exposure to organized basketball. She credits coaches Diana Sy, Tina Dela Cruz, and Piao Fedillaga for instilling the fundamentals and guiding her through her formative years.
Fans have since marveled at her agility and footwork — her ability to face up, post, and spin past defenders with a skill set rarely seen from a Filipina big.
She recalled, “Noong high school pa lang ako, gustong-gusto kong inaabot ang ring. Nakita ako ni Coach Diana. Sabi niya, natatakot siya for me dahil ang sama ng landing ko. So tinutukan niya ako with drills kung paano ang tamang landing and drills din on footwork.”
SOARING HIGHER
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The campus in Loyola Heights became her college home, choosing Ateneo over three other UAAP suitors.
Under coach LA Mumar, she blossomed in her rookie season, capturing Rookie of the Year honors.
She formed a lethal partnership with Jhazmin Joson, a Gilas veteran now playing for the Southern Tigers in Australia’s NBL1.
Dubbed Ateneo’s version of “Shaq and Kobe“, the duo propelled the Lady Eagles back into title contention.
Dela Rosa went on to win back-to-back MVP awards in her sophomore and junior seasons, becoming the first Atenean to claim the honor since Cassiey Tioseco in 2007.
Now, she has committed to return for her fifth season, determined to deliver a championship to Katipunan after Ateneo fell just short of the Finals this past year following a one-point loss marred by a controversial last-second call.
Beyond the UAAP, bigger opportunities await. Her standout showing in France caught the attention of international scouts, leading to NCAA Division I offers from at least two schools in the United States, along with interest from professional clubs in Spain, Australia, and South Korea — paths she plans to explore after her Ateneo stint.
Still, Dela Rosa’s ambitions reach even higher.
The ultimate goal for any player is the WNBA, and it is a dream she continues to chase.
“Yun ang tinatarget ko since before, na sana makapag-WNBA ako. So I am working on improving my dribbling skills because I know sa height ko, baka pang-guard lang ako don. I feel like marami pang kulang, but we’re getting there,” she said.
And when her basketball journey eventually comes to an end, another dream awaits.
Dela Rosa hopes to enter aviation school and become a pilot — a fitting path for someone determined to keep soaring where only eagles dare.
