The San Francisco Giants hosted their 10th annual San Francisco State Night at Oracle Park on Tuesday night prior to their game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
To celebrate the night, former SFSU volleyball player Kimberly DeBoer, the founder of EMPIRE Distribution Ghazi Shami and owner of Señor Sisig Evan Kidera were all honored pregame by the Giants. Fans who purchased special-event tickets for the game received an exclusive SFSU-themed Giants roped hat.
DeBoer graduated from SFSU back in 2024 and was selected by Brandon Davis, SFSU’s athletic director, to speak with Giants in-game host Anthony Garcia in an on-field pregame interview.
“It’s super special to be able to come back up to San Francisco and just see everyone that has truly made an impact on my career and my life,” DeBoer said in an interview with Golden Gate Xpress.
DeBoer played four seasons of volleyball at SFSU, a part of the 2024 NCAA D-II Championship runner-up team and a 2025 Top 30 NCAA Woman of the Year Honoree. DeBoer had former teammates watching her pregame interview from the seats nearby.
“Having the current team back and some girls that I played with is like a blast from the past,” DeBoer said. “It feels like we were just here, even though it was just a year ago. The girls are still connected to us every day, and it means the world to be back.”
DeBoer is now an assistant women’s volleyball coach for the California Baptist University Lancers, a role she has had since March 2025.
As for Shami, he graduated from SFSU in 1999 and is the founder and CEO of EMPIRE Distribution, an independent American record label.
Shami had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of the game. He had the opportunity to practice just before entering the field and managed to throw a strike.
“[It’s] pretty surreal, because I used to be on campus like a quarter century ago,” Shami said. “We still here doing it big. So, it’s an honor as a human being to still be alive and thriving and to be able to give back to the community and be a San Francisco State alumni.”
EMPIRE has been a key figure in the revival of San Francisco’s nightlife as they partnered with Levi’s back in February, hosting an immersive pop-up with musical performances and exhibitions. They are also hosting a night market on April 15, celebrating “415 day.”
To wrap up the SF State Night pre-game festivities, Kimiko Kidera was brought out as the Play Ball Kid for the evening. Kimiko Kidera is the daughter of Evan Kidera, who graduated in 2004 and returned to finish his master’s degree in 2014. Evan Kidera is the co-owner and CEO of Señor Sisig, a widely known Bay Area Filipino-fusion restaurant.
“It was a privilege to be able to go to my school,” Kidera said. “I lived in the Sunset District, so I was able to walk to school all four years. I’m a proud Gator.”
Kidera is excited about Señor Sisig’s evolution, growing from a single food truck to now having four brick-and-mortar locations in both San Francisco and Oakland. He credits the Lam Family College of Business for motivating him and ultimately letting him imagine big things with his vision.
Both Kidera and Shami sat with each other for the game and the two have both been inducted into the San Francisco State Alumni Hall of Fame in the past two years.
“I’m gonna rep that on my chest for the rest of my life,” Kidera said. “I think that’s something that we can walk through the halls of San Francisco State and always see our plaque on the wall. And you know, that’s a legacy that we get to live forever.”
Shayna Rubin graduated from SFSU in 2014 and is in her third season as a Giants beat reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. In a night full of Gator celebration, Rubin expressed the impact that SFSU has not just in the media landscape but across many industries.
“Something that I’ve learned the most about SF State is that it’s always a little bit underestimated, and how much the school and its alumni have an influence on the media, and especially sports media,” Rubin said. “But it’s more than media. It’s everywhere. There’s always at least a couple or one SF State alum that has a lot of influence in their space… this day is a good opportunity to recognize how hard SF State kids work after they graduate, and how much influence they have on the local communities.”
As for the game itself, the Giants pulled out a 6-0 win, snapping a four-game losing streak. Left-hander Robbie Ray pitched into the seventh inning, finishing with seven strikeouts and only allowing six baserunners. Rookie catcher Daniel Susac continued to impress, collecting three more hits, including a two-run triple in the eighth inning.
Despite the cold, windy night at the ball park, the comfortable win capped off an ideal night for the SFSU community who attended.
