By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A massive crowd of approximately 90,000 ecstatic fans completely overwhelmed the streets of Piraeus, triggering scenes of absolute jubilation to welcome the newly crowned EuroLeague champions.
The historic gathering took place outside the iconic Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, unfolding just hours after the team secured the prestigious title at the Telekom Center Athens, the home of archrivals Panathinaikos Aktor.
The Reds captured the fourth continental championship in the history of the club, overcoming Real Madrid with a in a thrilling Final Four championship game showdown.
While the home arena of their perennial rivals served as the initial battleground for their continental triumph, the Municipal Theatre quickly transformed into the beating heart of the red-and-white universe. The celebration reached a fever pitch around 4:30 AM when the official Olympiacos open-top victory bus arrived at the square. The European trophy was displayed proudly at the front of the vehicle as an endless sea of flares turned the early morning darkness into broad daylight.
Supporters chanted continuously through the night, hailing the squad as the undisputed kings of the continent. In a moment of deep mutual respect during the peak of the celebration, team captain Kostas Papanikolaou stepped aside and called upon head coach Georgios Bartzokas. Papanikolaou insisted it was only right that the mastermind of the team’s success be the first to lift the coveted silverware high into the Piraeus sky.
The ecstatic crowds sang long into the morning, mockingly chanting that their rivals’ home court had effectively been rented out for a Piraeus championship party.
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