SAN ANTONIO -- Fans of the San Antonio Spurs filled the banks of the San Antonio River by the thousands Saturday to give a raucous thank you to the team for bringing home a third NBA title.
Players, coaches and their families rode in barges along the Alamo city's famed Riverwalk, smiling, waving and hoisting the title trophy before an estimated 350,000 people.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. You really don't know how great you are," Spurs All-Star Manu Ginobili told admiring fans from a barge.
The Spurs wrapped up their third championship in seven seasons with an 81-74 victory against the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, displaying the team play, poise and professionalism that have become the franchise's signature traits.
"They're not ball hoggers, they never quit. Even after they won, they strive to be better," said Vanessa Martinez, 22, of San Antonio.
Hundreds of fans stood in the blistering sun for up to two hours to get into the Rivercenter Mall Laguna, where the parade's 26 barges would turn around. Even before the parade began, the crowd was yelling "Go Spurs Go!"
"You gave us the home-court advantage we needed," said Finals MVP Tim Duncan, exchanging his normal stoicism for an ear-to-ear smile. "You took us all the way to the top."
The crowd erupted once Spurs point guard Tony Parker rode through the Riverwalk with his girlfriend, "Desperate Housewives" star and Texas native Eva Longoria, and hoisted up the title trophy over his head.
"It's amazing to see how much happiness we bring to people," said Parker, who will be in France for another parade in his honor.
Brent Barry stepped off from one of the barges with his wife and son, who was clutching one of the team's three title trophies. He recalled the moment eight months ago when he came to the Spurs, believing it would be an opportunity to win his first NBA title.
"This day is for our fans," Barry said. "This is why we played the way we played."
Other Spurs players signaled No. 1 with the fingers to the crowd while fans wedged themselves in the balconies and sidewalks, stretching their necks to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
The celebration continued at the Alamodome, where more than 60,000 people were gathered. They gave Ginobili one of the loudest ovations after he spoke to them in Spanish and Parker revved up the crowd by rapping in French.
"The experience in the Alamodome was amazing. They really interact with the audience," said 14-year-old Alyssa Villarreal, who wore a silver Spurs medallion around her neck and Argentina's flag around her waist in support of her favorite player, Ginobili.
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