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Villanova parade recap: NCAA basketball championship celebrated in Philadelphia

Live updates from the 2018 Villanova Wildcats NCAA Championship parade.

Phil Booth holds up the national championship trophy during Villanova's NCAA men's basketball tournament victory parade in Center CIty on Thursday, April 5, 2018. The parade ran from 20th and Market streets to Dilworth Plaza.
Phil Booth holds up the national championship trophy during Villanova's NCAA men's basketball tournament victory parade in Center CIty on Thursday, April 5, 2018. The parade ran from 20th and Market streets to Dilworth Plaza.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer

It was another parade day in Philadelphia, this time celebrating the Villanova men's basketball team with a five-block procession in honor of the team's third NCAA championship.

The celebration of the Wildcats' win over Michigan wound from 20th and Market Streets to City Hall, ending with a rally at Dilworth Park. Villanova previously won NCAA titles in 2016 and 1985, making this the second win (and parade) of Coach Jay Wright's tenure.

The event was short and it was sweet, but in case you missed it, here's a recap:

  1. The five-block parade, stretching from 20th and Market Streets to Dilworth Park, started pretty much on time, around 11 a.m.

  2. Hundreds of Villanova students took the train in from the Main Line, where SEPTA deployed some extra cars for the festivities.

  3. The streets were lined with blue while signs held up signs that read "V" and "Villy, Villy" – a nod to the Eagles' Super Bowl win.

  4. Porta potties were tied together while trash cans were saran wrapped. We're still not sure why.

  5. The crowd heard brief remarks from Mayor Kenney, Lt. Gov Mike Stack, Villanova President and Rev. Peter Donahue, Coach Jay Wright and some of the players, including beloved guard Donte DiVincenzo.

  6. No, Jason Kelce did not speak.

  7. The rally wrapped up around 12:20 p.m. with the NCAA champs giving away T-shirts to the crowd, who continued to chant, "one more year."

Will their wishes be fulfilled? Could the Wildcats bring home their fourth NCAA title next year? It's way, way too early to tell, but follow the Inquirer and Daily News for sports coverage year-round to find out.

Here's the full play-by-play of the 2018 Villanova Wildcats NCAA championship parade: