PEOPLE: Boy Named Carmelo Gets Surprise of a Lifetime from Namesake After Receiving Disappointing News During Knicks Playoffs

Just weeks after a young Knicks fan named Carmelo went viral for being surprised with playoff tickets to Madison Square Garden for his 12th birthday, it suddenly looked like the dream was over before it ever had the chance to happen.

After the New York Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games, the highly anticipated Game 5 at MSG was canceled — crushing Carmelo's chance to watch his favorite team play at the Garden.

For the family, who had spent $1,700 on tickets, the excitement quickly turned into the realization that they weren't going after all. Still, Angelisa Rios says her son never let the setback dampen his excitement for the Knicks' playoff run.