Twelve years in the making, the San Antonio Spurs are back on the NBA’s biggest stage.

In a high-stakes Game 7 on the road, the Spurs held off the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-103, to win the Western Conference Finals on Sunday, May 31 (PH Time), and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

Victor Wembanyama, later named Western Conference Finals MVP, anchored the effort with 22 points and seven rebounds, delivering key plays on both ends. But the Spurs’ breakthrough came from their depth — a hallmark of the franchise’s championship pedigree.

Julian Champagnie caught fire from long range, draining six 3-pointers en route to 20 points, repeatedly halting Oklahoma City’s momentum.

Rookie guard Stephon Castle added a composed all-around performance with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, showcasing maturity beyond his years in the biggest game of his young career.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, meanwhile, leaned heavily on its superstar. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in a game-high 35 points and kept the Thunder within striking distance for most of the night.

Cason Wallace contributed 17 points and seven rebounds, while Jared McCain and Alex Caruso added 12 points each.

But despite their resilience, the Thunder could not overcome San Antonio’s late-game composure, falling just short of a Finals berth on their home floor.

For the Spurs, the victory signals both a return to prominence and the arrival of a new era. Once defined by the dynasty of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, San Antonio now finds itself back in contention, led by a new generation headlined by Wembanyama.

Awaiting them in the Finals are the New York Knicks, setting up a historic rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals — the last time the Spurs captured a championship.

Game 1 is set for Wednesday night in San Antonio (Thursday, Philippine time).