MANILA, Philippines — If someone called to tell you that you had won ₱100 million, would you immediately believe them?
Mahan, the grand winner of ArenaPlus’ ₱100 Million MVP Bracket, did not. She initially hung up on ArenaPlus’ calls, unable to believe the news that would change her life. It took several messages before she finally responded.
“Nung una po, hindi po ako makapaniwala. Kasi nung tumawag ang ArenaPlus, binababaan ko po,” Mahan recalled after receiving her prize from ArenaPlus, the #1 PAGCOR-licensed online sportsbook in the Philippines, on Nov. 6 in Parañaque City.
“Tumawag po ulit, nagsabi na ArenaPlus, binaba ko po ulit. Tapos nung nag-chat na po ang ArenaPlus, ‘yun, sinagot ko na po. Sorry po,” she said, laughing.
For Mahan, a 49-year-old Manila resident, the extraordinary news opened up possibilities she had long hoped for, especially the chance to provide a better home for her family.
One winner among nearly 150,000 participants
A housewife and mother of five children, Mahan emerged as the grand prize winner of ArenaPlus’ NBA Playoffs MVP: Battle for the Most Valuable Predictor, a free-to-play campaign that challenged Filipino basketball fans to predict the outcomes of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Nearly 150,000 participants joined the competition, which covered 15 playoff series from the opening round through the NBA Finals.
No participant predicted all 15 series correctly. Seventeen winners came remarkably close, correctly predicting 14 of the 15 outcomes.
Mahan’s winning bracket correctly predicted every series matchup through the Finals, missing only the eventual NBA champion.
ArenaPlus Head Ethan William highlighted just how difficult that achievement was during the awarding ceremony.
“I’ve worked in this industry for a long time, and I don’t get to say that sentence very often,” William said, referring to the campaign’s ₱150 million total prize pool for 17 winners.
“That’s basketball. Nobody can predict everything. But 17 people came very close. They got 14 out of 15.”
The campaign featured a ₱100 Million MVP Bracket grand prize and a ₱50 Million Shared Prize Pool, with 16 other winners entitled to ₱3.125 million each, subject to the completion of prize requirements.
The winning entries were determined under promotional mechanics approved by PAGCOR.
A new home and a Christmas together
For Mahan, who has been an ArenaPlus user for two years now, winning ₱100 million means more than receiving an extraordinary amount of money.
One of her first priorities is to buy a house and lot where her family can live together.
After spending periods apart from some family members, she hopes the prize will allow them to reunite and celebrate Christmas under one roof.
“Sobrang saya po ngayon. Magsama-sama na po kami lahat,” she said.
She also hopes to share her good fortune with her extended family, including her husband’s siblings, while extending help to others in need.
“Bahay at lupa, tapos bibigyan po yung mga kapatid ng asawa ko, bawat pamilya po namin. Tulong po sa abot ng makakaya ko sa ibang tao po na nangangailangan,” Mahan shared.
Her plans reflect how the prize could bring lasting changes not only to her own household but also to the lives of people close to her.
Celebrating Filipino basketball fans
For ArenaPlus, the campaign was designed to recognize the passion and basketball knowledge of Filipino fans.
“Here in the Philippines, basketball is more than a game. We talk about it at breakfast. We argue about it at work. We play it on the street after dinner,” William said.
“That’s why we made this campaign. No deposit, no bet, just your basketball sense. We wanted to give fans’ opinions a real stage.”
William also encouraged the winners to enjoy their prizes and share their good fortune with loved ones.
“To our winners: this money can change a lot. Enjoy it. Share it with the people you love,” he said.
Celebrating Filipino basketball fans
For ArenaPlus, the campaign was designed to recognize the passion and basketball knowledge of Filipino fans.
“Here in the Philippines, basketball is more than a game. We talk about it at breakfast. We argue about it at work. We play it on the street after dinner,” William said.
“That’s why we made this campaign. No deposit, no bet, just your basketball sense. We wanted to give fans’ opinions a real stage.”
William also encouraged the winners to enjoy their prizes and share their good fortune with loved ones.
“To our winners: this money can change a lot. Enjoy it. Share it with the people you love,” he said.
The Nov. 6 ceremony brought together Mahan and other winners, alongside ArenaPlus and DigiPlus Interactive Corp. executives, to celebrate their achievements in one of the brand’s biggest campaigns to date.
As the Official Betting Partner of the NBA in the Philippines, ArenaPlus continues to develop experiences that bring Filipino fans closer to the sports they love.
A call that changed everything
Even after the awarding ceremony, Mahan was still coming to terms with her extraordinary win.
“Sobrang pasasalamat ko po. Naniniwala na po talaga ako ngayon,” she said.
From initially refusing to believe the phone calls to standing onstage as the ₱100 Million MVP Bracket grand prize winner, Mahan now looks ahead to a future filled with new possibilities for her family.
And for someone whose first instinct was to hang up, that call has become one she will never forget.
