“You’re the next contestant on “The Price is Right!” ”

Sergio Barboza never thought he would be that next contestant when he heard the famous phrase, and he certainly never thought he’d go on to win the whole game.

The 56-year-old Brampton brewer and musician won big on the long-running CBS show “The Price is Right” in an episode that aired on Oct. 25. That showcase win followed a series of prizes Barboza earned through the episode, culminating in a total of over $37,000 won in prizes, including a new Mitsubishi Mirage.

It all started when Barboza got a call from his friend Danny Franzini.

Franzini told him he had tickets to go see “The Price is Right,” but Barboza had already taken the week off and made plans to spend time at the cottage with his family.

“My wife convinced me to go,” he said.

Excited to watch live the game show he’d watched his whole life, (with Drew Carey as host since 2007) Barboza had a T-shirt made that read “Oh Canadrew, I’d like to bid a loonie, eh?”

The two arrived in Los Angeles a day before the recording, set for Aug. 29, and navigated through heavy security at CBS studios which involved one-on-one interviews with ticket-holders.

“We finally got in, and they sat us at the back right against the wall,” Barboza said.

He didn’t think his name would be called, but then he heard his name, followed by the iconic phrase — “Sergio Barboza, come on down!”

He described hearing his name as “surreal” and never thought he’d be up at the front of the audience bidding on the next item.

That first item — a pair of glasses — Barboza was outbid by a dollar, by a contestant that went on to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The second item up for bid was kitchenware. Before placing his bid, Barboza had to convert currencies to come up with what he thought was the right price in U.S. dollars. On the advice of his friend cheering on from the audience, he bid $1,200 — and won.

Barboza went on to play One Wrong Price, where he had to guess one incorrect price of three listed items. Between a gas range, six purses, and a 55-inch television — he correctly picked the gas range as the wrong price.

Moving on to the Showcase Showdown, Barboza was second to spin the $1 big wheel. He landed on 95 cents until a familiar contestant returned.

“The girl that outbid me, she spun and got 50 cents,” Barboza said.

She spun again, and went over by 5 cents. Barboza was in the Showcase.

At the Showcase, Barboza was passed a set of prizes that the other top-winning contestant declined. It included a trip to Austin, Texas, a drum kit, a guitar, an amplifier and a brand new Mitsubishi Mirage. He bid $22,900, while his rival bid $25,000 for her showcase — a series of vacations around the world.

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His rival overbid, and Barboza was under — he won the showcase.

He never thought he’d see “The Price is Right” live, let alone win the whole game.

“The one thing I learned, that I confirmed about this whole experience is always take opportunities when they’re given to you,” Barboza said. “You never know what can come of it.”

As a Canadian citizen, Barboza will have his prizes shipped to the nearest American city, as per CBS’ rules. Before that, Barboza has to pay U.S. state and federal taxes — about 30 per cent — for his prizes before Nov. 25 to claim them.

Ali Raza is a reporter for Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian. Reach him via email: aliraza@metroland.com

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