By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Lithuania got its independence on the 11th of March 1990, however, the 29th anniversary was celebrated yesterday in Athens, Greece, one day before the crucial Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game between Olympiacos and Zalgiris Kaunas.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the Hellenic Republic Rolandas Kacinskas organized a banquet reception that included a screening of the documentary “The other dream team” , which tells the incredible story of the 1992 Lithuanian basketball team, which included basketball legends like Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis and ended up being bigger than a sport team for the young Lithuanian state.
Jonas Kazlauskas, the former coach of the Lithuanian and also the Greek national team, was present in the event, AEK’s forward Jonas Maciulis was also there and Zalgiris was represented by GM Paulius Motiejunas.
The banquet also included a photo exhibition related to the political demonstration named “The Baltic way”, when 30 years ago approximately 2.000 000 people joined their hands to form a human chain spanning 675.5 kilometers across the three Baltic states, aiming to draw global attention to their desire for freedom and independence.