Yannakis and Brazil: a true… love story

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - Every time Panyotis Yannakis comes across the Brazilian National Team feels a buzz of happiness. The Greek National Team coach's playing career, but his actual life, too, had been strongly hued by the "country of samba".

On August, 19, 1990, in "Luna Park" Buenos Aires, Greece beat Brazil 103-88 at the World Championships hosted in Argentina. Yannakis had netted 38 points, a scoring effort that meant his career high in a record-total of 351 games in the Greek National Team jersey.

The "Dragon", as Yannakis nickname is, scored another couple of times at least 30 points against Brazil; on July 9, 1986 in Zaragoza World Championships he finished the game with 32, while on August, 19, 1990,in Buenos Aires again, the Greek living legend bagged 30 points at the World Championships classification round.

However, Yannakis' most compelling moment came on August 2, 1996 at Atlanta's "Georgia Dome". Greece defeated Brazil 91-72 to seal fifth place at its debut at the Olympic Games. That game meant Yannakis last performance ever on a basketball court, at least wearing a jersey. After an unforeseen 25-year career on floors, the 37-year old mythic guard had called he quit.

In his Swan Song, Yannakis scored three points. In a rare, but mythical coincidence, the same game was the last for another basketball's legend, namely Oscar Schmidt. The two great figures of international basketball hugged each other after the final buzzer, while the fans were giving them an unforgettable standing ovation in the stands to create a moment to be remembered for ever.

But, the drama was to be continued in the Greek locker rooms; in an unanticipated move the players asked from the rest of the team-members to leave the lockers. The 11-man squad said its own goodbye to the Greek captain in an emotional atmosphere.

A few moments later, the players got out in tears wearing laureate garlands on their heads. Giorgos Sigalas, who also served the National Team as a captain later on, said: "I am not crying because Yannakis is retiring; I am crying because the man retiring tonight is basketball himself."

Press Office
Local Organising Comittee