Novo Brazil Brewing Company has given $24,000 in its restaurant gift cards to players on the San Diego State University men’s basketball team via MESA Foundation, an official Name Image Likeness (NIL) partner of the school.

Each player received one $1,500 gift card. Novo also has introduced a 10 percent discount promotion at its Mission Valley location for all SDSU students. Novo Founder Tiago Carneiro made the announcement.

Carneiro presented the gift cards to the team recently following a practice at Viejas Arena. The 10 percent discount program for SDSU students is available only at Novo’s Mission Valley restaurant. Students simply need to present their SDSU card at the time of payment.

“I believe it’s important for local companies to give back to these talented student-athletes,” Carneiro said. “SDSU men’s basketball has provided our city with so much joy over the last several years, especially during their magical run to the Final Four in 2023. These players bring big business to local companies, including Novo and our sister company NOVA Kombucha, so this our way of saying ‘thank you’ to them.”

Last year, members of the team collaborated with NOVA to create Azteks Raspberry Kombucha. Players chose the flavor profile, contributed to the design of the brand packaging, and learned about the brewing process. Azteks Raspberry is available on draft and in four packs of 16-oz cans at all Novo and NOVA locations: Novo Mission Valley, Novo Chula Vista, Novo Otay Ranch Town Center, Novo Imperial Beach, and NOVA Ocean Beach.

Novo restaurants have an extensive menu of Brazilian-, Mexican-, and American-influenced selections, including El Charro Ribeye, Picanha (prime sirloin), burgers, yucca fries, salads, and carne asada nachos and fries. There are 60 beverages on tap, including beer, hard kombucha, and non-alcoholic kombucha.

NOVA is the Official Hard Kombucha of Snapdragon Stadium, where all SDSU football home games are played.

MESA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization.