The night of Monday 15 September was one for the ages in Melbourne’s Greek heartland of Oakleigh. The Panathinaikos basketball side rolled into the iconic Greek haunt, Vanilla, filling the local faithful with pride and passion as hundreds of green-clad supporters flocked to meet their idols up close.
The “Greens” strolled into Vanilla with their trademark swagger, ready to connect with a crowd of excited Panathinaikos fans. Vanilla, a beloved meeting spot for Melbourne’s Greek community, was packed to the rafters early, with fans creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a miniature Gate 13. Supporters, young and old, buzzing with excitement, couldn’t wait to rub shoulders with their heroes.
Four of the team’s basketball stars graced the event: Kendrick Nunn, Ioannis Kouzeloglou, Jerian Grant, and Ioannis Rogkavopoulos. Joining them were the club’s president, Vasilis Parthenopoulos, and Despina Giannakopoulou, widow of the late, great Pavlos Giannakopoulos.
The evening was also attended by Minister Steve Dimopoulos and Bill Papastergiadis, president of the Greek Community of Melbourne.
But the night had only one true star: Panathinaikos and its supporters. The fans showed that no distance can dim the love for the Trifili.
We nabbed a quick chat with Jerian Grant, asking what it means for him and his teammates to see such a massive following for their club, thousands of kilometres from its Athens base.
“It’s unreal,” Grant said. “We’re so far from Greece, yet you can feel the passion of our fans so strongly. It’s an unbelievable feeling to sense the love for the club even on the other side of the planet. It’s just another sign of how massive Panathinaikos is.”
The four Panathinaikos stars didn’t let a single fan down, signing shirts, memorabilia, basketballs, and even a pair of shoes for over an hour.
It was a magical, green-tinted night that will live long in the hearts and souls of the Panathinaikos faithful.
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