EuroBasket finalists Slovenia and Serbia enjoy hero’s welcome
LJUBLJANA (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - More than 20,000 Slovenians flocked the Congress square in capital Ljubljana on Monday night to celebrate their European champions.
LJUBLJANA (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - More than 20,000 Slovenians flocked the Congress square in capital Ljubljana on Monday night to celebrate their European champions.
Slovenia claimed a maiden FIBA EuroBasket title with a 93-85 win over Serbia in Sunday’s Final and happily brought the Nikolai Semashko Trophy to its new home for the next four years.
The 🏆is HOME 🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮🙌🙌🙌 @kzs_si @FIBA @Goran_Dragic @luka7doncic @KlemenPrepelic @LakovicJaka @JakaBlazic @Edo_Muric @SasoSekulic pic.twitter.com/t6kYg6MW38
— Zoran Dragic (@zoran_dragic) September 18, 2017
Having enjoyed the support of 6,000 Slovenian fans on site in Istanbul, the celebrations continued in Ljubljana, with MVP Goran Dragic and Co. getting the crowd on their feet one more time.
"Kdor ne skače, ni Sloven'c, hej, hej, hej."
He who isn't jumping isn't Slovenian, proved once more the most popular chant, with fans and players alike proudly showing their colors.
GOLD is home safe in front of 25k fellow Slovenians! #mojtim @LaBoada @kzs_si @FIBA pic.twitter.com/DbnWkxPnxa
— Jaka Lakovic (@LakovicJaka) September 18, 2017
A similar stage was set in Belgrade for the return of runners-up Serbia.
Having overcome the disappointment of losing in the Final, the Serbian team were all smiles when welcomed by a crowd of 20,000 in the Serbian capital.
It was Serbia's first EuroBasket medal since 2009 and third silver finish under head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic, having reached the Final at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
With another box ticked off on the bucket list, the players made sure to capture and share the special moment on social media.
FIBA