Mariachi Campanas de América Rally Spurs Fans with Wembanyama Anthem Ahead of NBA Finals

The 2026 NBA Finals tip off tonight in the “Tejano Music Capital of the World,” San Antonio, Texas, and excitement is reaching a fever pitch as the San Antonio Spurs return to basketball’s biggest stage for the first time in more than a decade.

The Spurs will face the New York Knicks in a championship rematch 27 years in the making. The last time the two franchises met in the NBA Finals was in 1999, when San Antonio captured its first NBA championship and launched a dynasty that would eventually produce five titles.

Now, the Silver and Black are chasing history once again.

Led by defensive superstar Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs earned the Western Conference crown as the No. 2 seed after surviving a grueling seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the East, Jalen Brunson guided the No. 3 seed New York Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, completing a dominant playoff run with a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As San Antonio prepares for Game 1 at Frost Bank Center, fans across South Texas are embracing the familiar rallying cry: “Go Spurs Go” as the “Race for Seis” begins.

Among the team’s biggest supporters are world-renowned Mariachi Campanas de América, who have once again lent their musical talents to celebrate the Spurs’ championship journey.

The 12-piece ensemble released a special anthem, “Wembanyama (Go Spurs Go),” after the franchise selected then 19-year-old French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Three years later, the song has become an unofficial soundtrack for fans dreaming of another championship parade through the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio.

Arguably the city’s most celebrated mariachi group, Campanas de América has maintained a longstanding relationship with the Spurs, performing the National Anthem and entertaining fans at numerous games over the years.

Their Spurs musical tradition dates back even further. In 2013, the group recorded the fan-favorite anthem “Go Spurs/ESpurs Go!” to the tune of the Tejano classic “Mikaela,” helping energize fans during the championship runs of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili.

“It started with the playing the championships for the original three amigos, Tony Parker, (Manu) Ginobili, and (Tim) Duncan,” said Juan Ortiz, musical director and an original member of Mariachi Campanas de América. “One of the songs that was really big at that time was ‘Mikaela’ and when the city started pushing ‘Go Spurs Go’ it just fell right into place with it.

“So when we got the news that we were going to get the first pick it was a matter of just making some adjustments and gave a verse to Wembanyama. We’re really devoted fans to the Spurs.”

Ortiz and the ensemble may have been ahead of the curve. When they recorded the updated anthem following Wembanyama’s arrival, they envisioned a bright future for the franchise. That future has arrived faster than many expected.

Now, just three years later, Spurs fans believe Wembanyama can lead San Antonio back to championship glory and deliver the franchise’s sixth NBA title.

With Game 1 set for tonight in San Antonio, the city is buzzing with anticipation. From packed watch parties and Spurs flags flying across neighborhoods to mariachi anthems celebrating the team’s newest superstar, the excitement feels reminiscent of the championship seasons that defined a generation.

As the Race for Seis begins at Frost Bank Center, one thing is certain: San Antonio is ready.

And if the Silver and Black can finish the job, “Wembanyama (Go Spurs Go)” may become the soundtrack to another unforgettable chapter in Spurs history.

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