By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Despite Serbia not being able to make it all at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, losing against the German national team in the final played at Mall of Asia Arena, Svetislav Pesic’s national team was welcomed by thousands of fans in Belgrade to celebrate the silver medal.
A few hours after putting silver around their necks, Serbian players could see Novak Djokovic writing another page of tennis history, winning his 4th US Open – his 24th Gran Slam ever. The 36-year-old legend, one of the best ever in the sport, surprised everybody by joining the basketball team on the stage.
“There are rare moments in which somebody is speechless, I’m shaking and I don’t know what to say, and I have so much to say. First of all, I want to congratulate the basketball champions on their phenomenal success. Not only this year but throughout history and I thank them for accepting me to be part of this celebration and to hang out together tonight”, he said.
Big basketball fan, Novak Djokovic said this is a dream coming true for him. “This is the realization of a boyhood dream for one big reason, and that is that as a kid, like many of my generation and other generations, I was there in the crowd and celebrated big medals from the basketball, water polo, volleyball and other championships that represented Serbia in the world”, he said.
During the big celebration, Ognjen Dobric, who had to leave the court due to a twisted ankle at the very beginning of the last game in the competition, and Borisa Simanic, who had to undergo urgent surgery to remove a kidney after the game against South Sudan, were also there. The Serbian national team who won the recent 3×3 European championships also attended the event.
“Great respect for all of you, it was a great honor and pride to represent this national team and play for all of Serbia. We are finally seeing the fruits of all that we have worked for all these weeks spent together. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, We love you all. I can’t help but mention this guy here, Boriša Simanić, he united us all. He gave Serbia much more than all of us together”, Aleksa Avramovic added on stage.
Later on, Denver Nuggets superstar and 2023 FIBA World Cup justified absent Nikola Jokic joined his national team teammates and Novak Djokovic to conclude the evening.
Germany and Latvia also welcomed their heroes
While Serbia celebrated its silver medal in Belgrade, similar situations were recorded both in Frankfurt and Riga, to welcome respectively the German and Latvian heroes.
The 2023 FIBA World Cup MVP Dennis Schroder and all his teammates were celebrated after winning the first-ever gold medal in the country’s history after landing back home.
In Riga, instead, Luca Banchi and the Latvian national team were received by thousands of fans after ending the International competition in the 5th position. It was their first-ever FIBA World Cup participation.
PHOTO CREDIT: Serbian Basketball Federation
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