Marrickville’s Greek community amazed on Sunday, May 30, with their special celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution this year.
The celebrations were held at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Marrickville under the auspices of the National Committee of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia for the Bicentenary of the Greek Revolution.
At the start of the day, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia officiated a special Divine Liturgy at the church where parish priest, Father Nicholas Bozikis, was ordained as a First Elder of the Ecumenical Throne.
Photos by George Papapetrou / Facebook.
A cultural program later unfolded outside on church grounds, with many Greek youth dressed in traditional costumes performing to Greek music. Young boys were also seen proudly playing the bouzouki, while poems were recited about the Greek struggle for independence.
The National Metropolitan Choir of Australia, under the direction of conductor Themos Mexis, also flawlessly performed the national anthems of Greece and Australia.
This was followed by a number of small speeches from Peter Poulos MLC, representing NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, the Inner West Council Mayor, Darcy Byrne, and Konstantinos Giannakodimos, representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras.
Inner West Mayor, Darcey Byrne, with Archbishop Makarios of Australia. Surrounded by youth in Greek dancing costumes.
In his speech, His Eminence urged attendees to never forget that the blood of martyrs runs through their veins and then focused on the youth.
“I am proud of you. You are real Greeks, because you have in your heart the Greek passion and the Greek Orthodox Christian faith,” His Eminence said.
In fact, this Greek pride is so strong in Marrickville that according to The Greek Herald’s sources, a small part of the suburb will be officially named, ‘Little Greece,’ by the Inner West Council in the next few weeks.
Across Australia this year, the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete was commemorated with a number of wreath laying ceremonies, plaque unveilings and memorial services.
This is how Sydney, Adelaide and Perth marked the important occasion.
Sydney:
Sydney’s Greek community finished off its commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete this month with a special plaque unveiling and wreath laying ceremony hosted by the Mayor of Waverley City Council, Paula Masselos.
Despite the rainy weather and cold conditions, the special commemorative event at Waverely Park in Bondi Junction was attended by about 100 people.
All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
This included the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, the Archepiscopal Vicar of Canberra and Tasmania, Very Reverend Prochoros Anastasiadis, Federal, State and Local government representatives, prominent members of Greek community organisations, Australian Defence Force representatives, and other distinguished guests.
Official proceedings were started by Master of Ceremonies, Bill Harrigan, asking the Waverley College Army Cadet Unit to take their positions standing proudly next to the Waverely Cenotaph, while a traditional smoke ceremony and welcome to country was conducted.
Addresses were then given by Mayor Masselos, the Consul General, Father Prochoros, who was representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, James Jordan, the Chairperson of the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign, Father Bernie Thomas from Mary Immaculate Church, Commodore John Stavridis from the Australian Navy and Roger Selby, President of the NSW Association of Jewish Service & Ex-Service Men and Women.
“[Today] we celebrate the warm friendship between Greece and Australia… we celebrate our common values that bind us together as friends,” Mr Karras said in his speech.
All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
From there, the Ode to the Fallen was recited, the Last Post and Reville was played and a one minute silence was held.
Mayor Masselos and Father Prochoros then approached the cenotaph to proudly unveil a new commemorative plaque, which honours the eight Waverely Anzacs who fought in the Battle of Crete and Greek Campaign and are buried in Greece. Attendees later paid their respects to the fallen by laying wreaths around the plaque.
“Bondi Junction is the centre of the Eastern Suburbs and while Waverely has a significant Greek Australian population, this memorial I hope is something I hope will be embraced by everyone in the Eastern Suburbs,” Mayor Masselos told The Greek Herald after the event.
“It is a testament to the relationship between Greece and Australia, but also forging some very strong bonds between the Greek Australian community and the Australian community.”
Adelaide:
Members of South Australia’s Greek and wider community among them more than twenty distinguished guests and dignitaries as well as representatives of associations and organisations gathered on Sunday, May 30th at the town’s War Memorial in North Terrace, to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa
Photo: The Greek Herald
Photo: The Greek Herald
Photo: The Greek Herald
The wreath laying ceremony organised after 17 years of break, by the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, George Psiachas and with Pantelis Fridakis, President of the Cretan Association of South Australia, in the role of the Master of Ceremonies (MC) was initiated with speeches from the Consul General; Minister for Innovation & Skills, representing the Premier of South Australia David Pisoni; Professor Peter Monteath from Flinders University, President of the Cretan Association of SA and Chairman of Virtual War Memorial, Peter L. Williams.
Picture: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa
Photo: The Greek Herald
Photo: The Greek Herald
Photo: The Greek Herald
“Australia and Greece were proven to be in the right side of history together,” Mr Psiachas said during his speech, explaining the important role of the ANZACs in the Battle of Crete and the strong relationships formed between the soldiers and the hospitable Greek people.
“These bonds have been embedded deep in our hearts and they remain alive to this day,” said the Consul General, extending his thanks and appreciation to the Premier, the local RSL and the Virtual War Memorial.
Bishop Silouan of Sinope with Consule General of Greece in Adelaide, George Psiachas. Photo: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa
The speeches were followed by a memorial service officiated by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope and the laying of wreaths.
A one minute’s silence was held as a tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and the event concluded with the Greek and Australian national anthems.
Later on, the same afternoon, a light lunch was also offered at the Cretan House in Alberton.
Perth:
The Consulate of Greece in Perth organised a wreath laying ceremony at Kings Park State War Memorial on Sunday, May 30 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, while also commemorating the Genocide of the Hellenism of Pontos.
In attendance was the last remaining veteran in Western Australia of the Battle of Crete, Mr Arthur Leggett, who defied the bad weather and the rainfall to be there.
“Thank you to all our Australian and Greek friends for attending this year’s commemoration,” the Consulate wrote on Facebook.
Greek Stage Theatre’s new theatrical comedy, The Murderers, premiered on Saturday, May 29, at the Mantouridion Theatre in Marrickville to loud applause from the audience.
The Murderers received positive reviews from the audience, with the Greek Stage Theater presenting a contemporary comedy by Alexandros Rigas and Dimitris Apostolos.
In the interactive comedy, the five “murderers,” played by Vicky Rapti, Evi Lamazaki, Christina Ioannidou, Natasa Kastelloriou and Margarita Liagou, as well as the strict prosecutor Sandy Reke and her advisor from the Ministry of Justice, Aphrodite Rapti, captivated the public for almost 2.5 hours.
Photo credit: Syndesmos Connecting People and Their Stories.
A special zest was given to the play by the presence of a police officer played by Stamatis Psarras, a retired secretary of the prosecutor, played by Rena Katsara, and Giannis Katsaras, first as a prison guard and then as the mother of Prosecutor Karabela, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
The adaptation of the play was done by Akis Kastelloriou and he, along with George Tsoularis, were also the directors.
“This show could only go up with these actors. I am proud that we managed to present you a play that has not been presented before in community theater,” Mr Kastelloriou said after the show.
Photo credit: Syndesmos Connecting People and Their Stories.
“I thank the Mantouridion theater and my teacher Stavros Economidis for their cooperation and hospitality.”
After the conclusion of the play, Mr Kastelloriou presented Giorgos Andronis with an “Oscar” for his work in the Greek Stage Theatre’s previous play. The award has now become an institution of the theatre and aims to recognise the efforts of their actors.
About the play:
Five women who are of “sound mind” engineer and invoke all kinds of mental illnesses in order to prove that they acted without thinking and to avoid their condemnation. A prosecutor-psychiatrist, an assistant specialising in the representations of murders who claims to be the granddaughter of the well-known author, Alexandros Papas, and a policeman are called to stop the plans of the murderers and to reveal them. But things do not turn out as planned by either side.
Photo credit: Syndesmos Connecting People and Their Stories.
Contributors:
Words by: Alexandros Rigas & Dimitris Apostolou.
Adaptation: Akis Kastelloriou.
Directed by: Akis Kastelloriou & George Tsoularis.
Costumes and Set design: Margarita Liagou.
Lighting: George Andronis.
Music Editing: Natasa Kastelloriou & Akis Kastelloriou.
If you would like to attend the play here are the viewing / ticket details:
Saturday: 05/06, 12/06, 19/06 @19:30pm
Sunday: 06/06, 13/06, 20/06 @16:30pm
For reservations please call: 0450 724 600.
Tickets: General Admission is $30, Concession is $25.
Address: Building 36/142 Addison Road, Marrickville (Community Center).
The Acropolis Rally of Greece is a rally event organised for the first time in 1951. The rally is considered one of the toughest in the world, taking place on rough and rocky mountain roads in central Greece and combining heat and dust. The rally base is in Lamia, about 200km north of Athens.
On this day in 1953, Nicos Papamichael won the rally. To mark the day, we take a look back at the history of the event.
First-ever rally event organised in 1951:
It all started in 1951 when the Automobile and Touring Club of Greece (ELPA) organised an ELPA Rally as a national event. The first ever winner was Greek driver, Petros Peratikos, in a Fiat.
But since 1953, the event has beared the name ‘Acropolis Rally’ and that year, Nicos Papamichael won in a Jaguar XK 120.
Starting ramp under the ancient Acropolis. Photo: Snap Lap.
In 1956, the rally became part of the European Rally Championship and the first international winner was the German, Walter Schock, in 1956 in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Walter Shock triumphed one more time, in 1960, becoming the first two-time winner.
From 1969, the rally was a part of the Manufacturers’ Championship, first on the European level in 1969 and then as the International Championship for Manufacturers (IMC) from 1970 to 1972.
In 1973, the World Rally Championship was established and the 21st Acropolis Rally was a part of the championship calendar as the sixth round in the 13-event schedule. The event took place on the last weekend of May in the mountains north of Athens.
Today, it is a part of the European Rally Championship calendar. The winners of Greek ERC rounds were Craig Breen (2014), Ralfs Sirmacis (2016) and Kajetan Kajetanowicz two times in 2015 and 2017.
Colin McRae’s #1 Subaru Impreza 555 at the 1996 Acropolis Rally. Photo: Snap Lap.
Colin McRae becomes Acropolis King with five wins
Colin McRae scored his first win at Acropolis Rally in 1996. The defending champion was driving the #1 Subaru Impreza 555, defeating Tommi Makinen (Mitsubishi) and Carlos Sainz (Ford). Sainz took the first win in the World Rally Cars era in 1997, then McRae won in a Subaru Impreza S4 WRC in 1998.
Richard Burns gave one more win to Subaru World Rally Team in 1999 and then Colin McRae continued his reign in a Ford Focus RS WRC, scoring three consecutive wins from 2000 to 2002. In Colin’s five wins, his navigators were Derek Ringer (1996) and Nicky Grist (four times).
The far-right ELAM party and a centrist splinter group made big gains in Cyprus’ parliamentary election on Sunday as a sizeable chunk of supporters appeared to have turned their back on the top three parties amid voter disenchantment with traditional power centers.
With 100% of votes counted, ELAM garnered 6.78% of the vote — a 3% increase from the previous election in 2016 — to edge out the socialist EDEK party by the razor-thin margin of around 200 votes.
The centrist DIPA — made up of key figures from the center-right DIKO party which has traditionally been the third biggest party — gained 6.1% of the vote.
The center-right DISY emerged in first place with 27.77% of the vote, 5.4% more than second-place, communist-rooted AKEL. But the parties respectively lost 2.9% and 3.3% of their support from the previous election.
“The result isn’t what we expected,” AKEL General-Secretary Andros Kyprianou told a party rally. “We respect it and we’ll examine it carefully to draw conclusions, but we can now say that we failed to convince (our supporters).”
A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Nicosia. Photograph: Iakovos Hatzistavrou/AFP/Getty.
Analyst Christoforos Christoforou said the results indicate a “very big failure” on the part of both DISY and AKEL to rally more supporters by convincing them of the benefits of their policies. A last-ditch appeal by the DISY leadership limited a projected 5% voter loss to 3%.
Christoforou said the real winners were ELAM with its strident anti-migration platform and hardline nationalist polies and DIPA whose top echelons still have connections to the centers of political power as former ministers and lawmakers.
“A neo-Nazi party is the clear winner of today’s election, securing two more seats in the 56-member house,” Christophorou, an analyst specialising in electoral behaviour, said.
“It has benefited from a xenophobic climate exacerbated by the high rate of arrivals of undocumented migrants and a government that has often adopted its own racist narrative.”
Christoporou said that the high electoral threshold of 3.6% means that 15,000 voters who cast ballots for smaller parties who didn’t win any seats are left without a voice in parliament.
Opinion polls in the weeks preceding the vote indicated that both DISY and AKEL would hemorrhage support as disappointed voters seek out alternatives among smaller parties.
The election won’t affect the running of the government on the divided Mediterranean island nation, as executive power rests in the hands of the president, who is elected separately.
About 65.73% of nearly 558,000 eligible voters cast ballots for the 56 Greek Cypriot seats in parliament. Voter turnout was 1% less than the previous poll.
Among the key campaign issues were the country’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hoped-for economic reboot as the country ramps up vaccinations. Migration has also been an issue as the Cypriot government insists it has exceeded its limits and can no longer receive more migrants.
Smaller parties have appealed to voters to turn their backs on DISY, which they said is burdened by a legacy of corruption.
An independent investigation into Cyprus’ now-defunct investment-for-citizenship program found that the government unlawfully granted passports to thousands of relatives of wealthy investors, some with shady pasts. DISY bore the brunt of the criticism because it backs the policies of Anastasiades, the party’s former leader.
Christoforou said there are questions as to whether the government has breached rules by using state funds to campaign for DISY.
A mother battling breast cancer in hospital quarantine has peacefully passed away while surrounded by her loving family, according to A Current Affair.
Marilyn Panthsos was able to spend eight more precious days with her family after quarantine protocols had previously kept the family apart.
“That’s all she’s wanted for the past 10 months… for us to be all together,” Marilyn’s daughter, Peggy, told the Australian media outlet.
Mrs Panthsos had been suffering alone in a COVID-19 palliative care ward as the pandemic kept her husband, Nick, and two children, Chris and Peggy, from being by her side.
(L-R) Chris, Marilyn, Nick and Peggy. Photo: A Current Affair.
Timeline of events:
In August last year, Mr and Mrs Panthsos left Australia in desperate need of cancer treatment for Mrs Panthsos.
They were supposed to make it back at the end of the year which didn’t happen because of the pandemic, but things took a turn for the worst, so the couple decided to come back home.
The parents touched down in Australia on May 20 and spent one night together in hotel quarantine before Mrs Panthsos was transferred to hospital – spending the past week in isolation.
Mr Panthsos remained stuck in hotel quarantine, while his children stood helpless on the street looking up at him stuck in his room.
Nick’s children stood outside as their dad was stuck in hotel quarantine. Photo: A Current Affair.
“(Her health) deteriorated when she first went into hospital. She has drains and fluids, which gives us some relief and will make her feel better for a little while,” Mr Panthsos told ACA when she was first admitted.
When doctors told the family Mrs Panthsos might not survive the 14 days, they applied for an exemption to be with their mum. But after a week of fighting to convince NSW Health and the hospital, they said they were told Mrs Panthsos was allowed while in quarantine.
“We just want to be there with her as much as we can before the inevitable happens,” Peggy said at the time.
Mr and Mrs Panthsos had both been vaccinated but a certificate to prove it appeared not to be enough.
“I get it, the protocols, there’s rules in place. But under the circumstances, I mean science should kick in … so if people get vaccinated, they’re still going to have to quarantine moving forward,” Mr Panthsos told ACA.
But then after ACA contacted NSW Health, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and his department acted.
Mr Panthsos was finally allowed into the hospital to see his dying wife after undergoing a COVID-19 PCR test. Chris and Peggy were also eventually given the green light to make a visit one at a time.
Heartbreakingly, Mrs Panthsos still lost her four-year battle with breast cancer.
“She’s been so strong, right through this whole journey… she’s the best mother in the world. She’s the best daughter in the world. She’s, the best sister in the world. I really can’t say much more about her – she’s amazing and she’s gonna be missed,” Mr Panthsos’ family told ACA.
AEK Athens has won its first ever European trophy in handball, and Greece’s second in the men’s game, beating Swedish club Ystads in both legs of the home-and-away finals that were agreed to take place at Halkida, central Greece.
The EHF European Cup that AEK won on Sunday is Europe’s third-tier trophy in handball.
The Yellows won the first leg of the finals with a 30-26 result on Friday, so they had a four-goal advantage to defend in the return game, also at Halkida.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, on Sunday began his trip to Greece with an unofficial visit to the northeastern province of Thrace, where most of Greece’s Muslim minority resides.
The official part of Cavusoglu’s trip will take place Monday morning, when he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He and Dendias will also have an informal dinner later Sunday.
Cavusoglu arrived by official plane at the Greek city of Alexandroupolis on Sunday and proceeded to the city of Komotini, where a large part of the Muslim minority resides.
“In #Greece to meet members of Turkish Minority in #WesternThrace and discuss our bilateral relations,” Cavusoglu tweeted.
The work of the Muftis contributes greatly to the preservation and strengthening of the unity and solidarity of the Turkish Minority. pic.twitter.com/3bFkIoUzx8
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) May 30, 2021
His mention of a “Turkish minority” is diplomatically sensitive, because Greece recognises the minority as a religious one, while Turkey refers to it as an ethnic Turkish minority. Greece has tried to promote the ethnic diversity of the minority, highlighting its Roma and Pomak components, in an effort to contain Turkish influence and possible secessionist sentiment.
Cavusoglu met with the two Turkish-approved muftis, of the cities of Komotini and Xanthi, whom Greece doesn’t recognise, having appointed its own. He also visited the grave of Dr. Sadik Ahmet, who was elected in the Greek parliament in 1989 as the head of the openly pro-Turkish Party of Friendship. Equality and Peace. It was Ahmet’s election that prompted Greece to change its electoral law to introduce a national vote threshold of 3% for parties to gain parliamentary seats.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, center, prays over the grave of Ahmet Sadik, who was an MP at the Greek parliament, at a muslim cemetery at Komotini town, in northeastern Greece, Sunday, May 30, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos.
Cavusoglu also visited Komotini’s Bayar Minority Gymnasium and Lyceum, a junior and senior high school named after a former Turkish president.
He told media after the school visit that when he meets with Greek officials, he will “bring up the subject of the rights of the Turkish minority in western Thrace.”
In response, the Greek Foreign Ministry issued a statement blasting Cavusoglu’s repeated ‘Turkish minority’ statements and calling on Turkey to stop “distorting reality.”
Δήλωση του Εκπροσώπου του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών Αλ.Παπαϊωάννου αναφορικά με τις δηλώσεις του Τούρκου ΥΠΕΞ κατά την διάρκεια της ιδιωτικής επίσκεψης στη Θράκη
“The Muslim Minority in Thrace has about 120,000 Greek inhabitants. Turkey’s constant attempts to distort this reality, as well as the allegations of alleged non-protection of the rights of these citizens, or of alleged discrimination, are unfounded and are rejected in their entirety,” the statement reads.
“Greece would like to improve relations with Turkey. Respect for international law is a prerequisite.
“We call on Turkey to respect these fundamental rules, including the Treaty of Lausanne, which it has also signed and is obliged to implement.”
Victorian attempts to veil the meanings of crude ancient Greek words are set to be brushed away by a new dictionary 23 years in the making. It is the first to take a fresh look at the language in almost 200 years and promises to “spare no blushes” for today’s classics students.
The late scholar John Chadwick first came up with the idea to update HG Liddell and Robert Scott’s 1889 dictionary, the Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon, in 1997. An abridged version of a lexicon published in 1843, the Liddell and Scott had never been revised, and is packed with antiquated terms and modestly Victorian translations of the more colourful ancient Greek words. Despite this, it remains the most commonly used reference work for students in English schools and universities.
It was initially thought that Chadwick’s project would take five years, but Cambridge professor James Diggle, who was then chair of the advisory committee, said it soon became clear that the Intermediate Lexicon was “too antiquated in concept, design and content”, and the team would need to start afresh.
James Diggle and his fellow editors set out on the “Herculean task” of rereading most examples of ancient Greek literature, from Homer to the early second century AD. They then worked through the 24 letters of the Greek alphabet to create a modern guide for today’s students to the meanings of ancient Greek words and their development through the years. The lexicon is the first to be based on an entirely new reading of the Greek texts since 1843.
“At the outset of the project I undertook to read everything which the editors wrote. I soon realised that if we were ever to finish I had better start to write entries myself,” said Diggle.
“The moment of greatest relief and joy was when I was able to sign off the final proofs and say to the publisher, ‘It’s finished. You can print it.’ You can’t imagine what it was like, to realise that we had finally got there. I literally wept with joy.”
The completed Cambridge Greek Lexicon, which is being published by Cambridge University Press, runs to two volumes and features around 37,000 Greek words, drawn from 90 authors and set out across 1,500 pages.
Many who watch the Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) would recognise Jacob Jackomas as the assistant coach to the Illawarra Hawks.
On track to reach the play-offs, the Greek Australian has been helping guide his team to potential NBL glory. Additionally to his role in the NBL, however, Jackomas was recently made the International Scouting Coordinator for the Australian national basketball team, the Boomers.
“The two things: It tests your coaching and your experience, your past experience in certain situations, and the other thing is it’s an unbelievable learning curve as a coach,” Jackomas said to The Greek Herald.
“Basically your job is to figure out how to beat other coaches, whilst learning off other coaches and other and other teams.”
One of the best parts about Jackomas’ job is getting to see some of the best players in the world represent their country, which he says is a “different kind of passion”.
“They play differently than what they do with their clubs, some of them are different human beings.”
Boomers at 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifier.
“It’s just a great learning experience in that regard whilst obviously representing Australia.”
Jackomas references the incredible talents of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Two-time NBA MVP for the Bucks, Giannis was born in Greece and has enjoyed great success both with his national team and in the NBA, which is regarded as the world’s highest level of basketball.
“There is something different about him (Giannis) but I haven’t learned that yet,” Jackomas says light-heartedly.
“This is only new to me, but there are stories… Like when Manu played for Argentina, that’s where he played his best basketball.”
“They say about Giannis that when some of the Greek players that have come through, they’ve matched with some of the best players in the world but can’t play in the NBA.”
“It’s just when you put that jersey on… And I think that grows in the tournament rather than outside of the tournament.”
Jacob Jackomas. Photo: Illawarra Hawks
As International Scouting Coordinator, Jackomas’ role is to assist coaches in their preparation for the Olympics. Jackomas says presenting coaches with facts and statistics play a large part in this process, but there is certainly room for gut instinct.
“It’s funny because it changes in every experience, so obviously I was in China before this for 10 years, so I knew that league well after watching it for a while so I could go on my gut. Now, being at the NBL for a year I’ve had to rely on more facts because I don’t know it as well,” Jackomas explains.
“In the early stages of what you do, it’s more about what you see and then, as you start to see repetitions of stuff over years or over games, in the NBL it’s been over games, you can start going ‘well they do this stuff’.
“Because obviously you go with your fact and then you see it again and they beat you somewhere else that you can’t see when you’re doing something.”
The Hawks have a rich history in the NBL, joining for its inaugural season in 1979. Jackomas joined the side in July 2020 as assistant coach, with the Greek Australian having known Hawks Head Coach Brian Goorjian for 11 years, working together in Australia and China.
They’re currently in the run for the NBA play-offs, yet the team has had to deal with two of their best Australian players being unavailable.
“Brian Goorjian is one of the best coaches, he’s in the top 10 in the world, and then obviously in our country, his record is one of the best in all our sports.”
“Being able to work with your one of your best friends and with a group of guys, it’s been an absolute blessing. I’ve just loved every minute of it.”
Currently ranked #3 in the world, the Boomers will head into Tokyo looking to claim their first-ever Olympic Games basketball medal.
“What the experts have said, it’s one of the best chances to medal,” Jackomas concluded.
