Trinity Junior Sets Spurs Halftime Competition Record at $1,100

Zachary Treu poses with Silver Star
dancers at last Wednesday's game
Photo by Callum Squires

By Dana McLaughlin

Zachary Treu celebrated his 22nd birthday with friends at the San Antonio Spurs home game against the Houston Rockets last Wednesday.

The Spurs came away with a win, and so did Treu, a junior at Trinity University. He won a $1,100 HEB gift card after setting an all-time high record for the HEB Beach Ball Mania halftime competition.

Treu said it was incredible to be down on the court. “I was also shaking pretty bad when I first got down on the court,” recalled Treu. “However, once I caught the first balloon I kind of just dialed in and felt pretty comfortable after that.”

The goal was to catch huge beach ball balloons falling from the ceiling and deposit them in HEB shopping carts in the center of the court. Balloons of different color represent different prize amounts. The time limit is 45 seconds.

“My strategy was to ignore every single $25 ball, and to focus on one of the $250 balls or the double-money balls,” said Treu. “Luckily the right beach balls dropped at the right time.”

Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Treu considers himself a San Antonio native and lifelong Spurs fan. It was only fitting for Treu and six of his closest friends to celebrate his birthday at the AT&T center cheering on his favorite team.

Prior to the game, Treu and his friends stopped at one of the Whataburger stands in the arena to get some Patty Melts. While in line, a promotional staffer overheard that it was Treu’s birthday and selected him to participate in the halftime competition.

And perhaps an even bigger price than the $1,100 gift card was receiving a congratulatory hug from Spurs legend Tim Duncan on the court. 

"It was a perfect birthday present and a real surprise that he was selected to compete," said Treu's close friend and fellow Trinity junior, Callum Squires. "I am not surprised at all that he broke the record; that's just the kind of guy he is." 

As for the money, Treu already had a spending plan. “I am definitely going to buy hot pockets for the guys that took me to the game, sunflower seeds for our athletic trainer Chris, and a lot of groceries, particularly beer of course, for rest of the year.” 

This is certainly a birthday Treu will never forget.