When River Joseph stepped onto the court against SHINee’s Choi Minho at the star-studded exhibition match held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on 26 October, no one was quite prepared for the level of charisma that would unfold.

Fans could hardly contain their excitement, shouting from the digital rooftops, “Nagkita na ang magkuya!”

Two names. Two countries. Yet they shared an aura of confidence, charm and that effortless boy-next-door-meets-celebrity glow. As K-pop charisma and Filipino flair collided, the entire arena was electrified, bringing together local and international fans in awe.

The viral face-off everyone’s talking about

Filipino and Korean celebrities went head-to-head in the highly anticipated BENCH/Shoot of Asia celebrity basketball match.

Minho captained the Rising Eagles, a team composed of K-pop idols and athletes, while River Joseph played for the Kuys Showtime squad, a formidable lineup of local personalities.

What followed was a storm of content — photos, edits, memes and endless comparisons flooding social media. The internet couldn’t help but ask: Who wore the charisma better?

Even with some heated plays and questionable calls, the Rising Eagles ultimately clinched the win. But that wasn’t what people remembered. It was River’s composure, his solid performance, and that unforgettable side-by-side moment with Minho that truly captured hearts.

Look-alike moment

River himself embraced the comparison, sharing in an exclusive interview with DAILY TRIBUNE:

“Actually, I’ve been getting that remark ever since before. People would always tell me and comment on my posts that I look like Minho. When I searched him up, I saw the resemblance, and there are angles where we do look alike. I think it’s the eyes and the smile. It’s funny also ‘cause we’re around the same height,” he said.

If the twinning vibes weren’t enough, fans soon crowned him the “local Choi Minho” — a title he wears with gratitude.

Minho has long been celebrated as one of K-pop’s most athletic idols — competing in triathlons, HYROX races and balancing a thriving career in both music and acting.

Meanwhile, River — dubbed the “Sporty Business Bro ng Muntinlupa City” — played basketball in high school, enjoys golf and leads an active lifestyle.

He told DAILY TRIBUNE about the surreal experience:

“It’s an honor to be dubbed as his lookalike. I was really looking forward to playing against Minho. During the game, we ended up guarding each other, which was really surreal as well. I’m super grateful that I was able to be part of the game and finally meet Minho in person.”

Business to showbiz

Before stepping into the limelight, River was actually on track for a corporate career.

A business management graduate from De La Salle University, he was expected to join the family business — but destiny had other plans.

Since his 2022 debut in He’s Into Her, followed by standout roles in The Iron Heart and Unbreak My Heart, River has proven that he’s more than just another rising star — he’s a new-generation leading man in the making.

And now, his journey continues to unfold:

“I’m grateful to be part of the MMFF movie Call Me Mother starring Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre. We also started filming the new collab serye The Secrets of Hotel 88, which will be shown next year. In terms of personal goals, I just hope to improve on my craft and explore as many genres and characters as I can,” River added.