To the sound of the iconic Final Countdown—a song long associated with the triumphs of the “Official Beloved”—the members of the Greek National Basketball Team returned from Riga, Latvia, where just yesterday they claimed the bronze medal at EuroBasket 2025 after defeating Finland in the third-place playoff.

Vassilis Spanoulis was the first to emerge, receiving a bouquet of flowers and a commemorative olive branch. He was followed by his staff, the HBF (Hellenic Basketball Federation) leadership, and then the entire squad of the National Team. With their medals hanging proudly around their necks, the internationals also received bouquets. Giannis Antetokounmpo was especially joyful, moving his hands to the rhythm of the song, though the “Greek Freak” chose to stay as much as possible out of the spotlight. His mother, Veronica Antetokounmpo, was also there with her radiant smile, recording everything on her phone.

Giannis himself admitted quietly: “I’m very tired. I haven’t slept all night.”

At the modest welcoming ceremony at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos,” Secretary General for Sports Giorgos Mavrotas said:
“On behalf of the State, I would like to thank our boys for the joy and pride they have given us. Sport elevates our country and we are very proud of this. Beyond our athletic presence, we also conveyed many important messages to Greek society. This is a bronze medal of gold for Greek sport.”

Then, the head coach of the National Team, Vassilis Spanoulis, stated:
“This is a very beautiful welcome, as this team deserves. This medal belongs to all of Greece, to all Greeks here and abroad. We wanted to give joy to the people and to lift basketball high again. This generation deserves it, they have deserved it for years—especially now. I am very happy to have been part of this success, but all credit goes to the players and everyone who contributed to making this happen. I hope this medal will be something that revives basketball in many ways.”

Team captain Kostas Papanikolaou added:
“We want to thank everyone who contributed so much to this great achievement, we truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And as coach said, we hope with this success we managed to enter the homes of Greeks, to give them a smile, to inspire new kids to fall in love with basketball as our generation once did—watching coach as a player, as well as Nikos Zisis, Dimos Dikoudis, Dimitris Diamantidis, Thodoris Papaloukas, Kostas Tsartsaris. Basketball is united, it is one, it is beloved, and it lives under the roof of the National Team. Thank you very much, and I hope the best is still ahead of us.”

Finally, HBF president Vangelis Liolios remarked:
“From the very beginning, the players and coaches believed in winning a medal—and they returned with one. We dedicate it to the fans, and we are certain that tomorrow will be brighter. After 16 years, this medal will give a push to Greek basketball. The people love basketball. Yesterday’s tears of joy are a legacy for the future.”