BROOKLYN – The Barclays Center in Brooklyn was decorated in blue and white for Greek Night as basketball fans from the Greek community gathered to watch the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, Feb. 4, and especially to cheer on fan favorite, NBA All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The “Greek Freak” attire by Greek sportswear company GSA was also prevalent in the arena.
“We have been doing Greek Nights for Giannis for the last 4-5 years, but for me tonight was the best of all!” said the director of the Super League Athletic Academy (SLAA) and organizer of Greek Night, James Pristouris.
This Greek Night was unique with many activities organized by SLAA (www.slaanyc.com) and a very emotional atmosphere, as well as some laughs for those in attendance. It was basically a family atmosphere for the Greek community Giannis Antetokounmpo.
There were laughs at the entrance to the arena and after the end of the game. The fans chanted “Hellas – Hellas”, “Ethniki – Ethniki”, “Giannis, Giannis”, “MVP – MVP”, throughout the game and throughout the arena, with Taso Philippou, son of the veteran basketball player Nikos, leading the chants.
The NBA All-Star and top Greek national team basketball player later greeted his closest friends, and with a very warm embrace, James Pristouris, in front of the Greek section. But there was a much greater and more emotional surprise waiting for him. Something that Giannis Antetokounmpo surely did not expect. The young Athena Bardis in fluent Greek spoke words that touched the soul of everyone, “For all of us, every time we are together in this arena, we want to tell you very much, to keep forever in your heart that we love you a lot and we feel proud of you. Every time we hear you sing our National Anthem, we are filled with feelings of joy and emotion. You are a basketball star, but for us you are a star as a person. May God always keep you well.”
Athena Bardis words were moving for the Greek fans as well as for Giannis making it an especially memorable night.
Giannis had no words. Visibly moved… he did not say anything, and only gave his chest a fist to his heart as if to say “I love you, too.”
The evening ended in the well-known Greek way with a gift of food- bag of delicious, traditional Greek souvlakia from Pitas and Sticks in Brooklyn. Giannis told Pristouris “My friend, thank you very much. These… souvlakia are just what I need right now,” and he left carrying the bag with his takeout souvlakia.
Watch video here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Keith Allison License: CC-BY-SA
Source: thenationalherald.com
