SAN ANTONIO — When you think of San Antonio, you also think of the five-time NBA championship winning Spurs basketball team. Some people will do just about anything to get free tickets to the games. With the COVID-19 cases rising, the City of San Antonio is trying to do whatever it can to encourage folks who have not received their vaccine yet to do so.

“Go Spurs Go!” said Steven Perez.

Perez chants what every Spurs fan knows and yells while watching the team play. His favorite year was 1999, when the Spurs first won a championship.

“I got to see the admiral when he was a rookie, and Tim Duncan,” said Perez.

You could say the Spurs are the reason Perez decided to go to the pop-up clinic to get vaccinated. Just by getting the shot, he’s entered to win a set of 10 Spurs tickets.

“I was watching television this morning and they were talking about giving Spurs tickets away and I’m like I’m totally down. I’m a big Spurs fan since I was a kid,” said Perez.

Rosa Rojas, health program specialist with the City of San Antonio, said it’s not only Perez that was lured out to get the vaccine. She’s heard several others say the same thing. This particular clinic was held at the San Antonio FC soccer stadium where folks getting the vaccine also got a ticket to a game.

“Lots of community members are excited for those incentives that come along with the COVID vaccines. Maybe a few months ago they were still on the fence about getting the vaccine, but hearing that these tickets are given out really draws them in,” said Rojas.

Rojas said the increase in COVID cases and the delta variant spreading across the state of Texas, forced them to get creative in figuring out a way to get the unvaccinated, well, vaccinated.

“We started doing that because we noticed those who were seeking the vaccine had already received it earlier this year and at this point we’re just grabbing those who might be waiting for whatever the reason is,” said Rojas.

“Hope I win these tickets man,” said Perez.

Waiting to get his shot, Perez said he now knows how serious things are getting again.

"I need to get the vaccine. I understand that it’s getting worse. The unvaccinated are getting sick and I don’t want to get sick. I want to live,” said Perez.

He dropped his name in the bowl for the drawing, feeling he did the right thing by getting the shot.

“I feel good. I feel so good, like I’m doing my part,” said Perez.

Perez hopes to be cheering on the Spurs again soon.