A EuroLeague preseason game between Panathinaikos and Partizan in Athens attracted an impressive crowd of 35,000 fans.
The matchup took place during the 6th Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament. The tournament, held at the iconic Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, featured defending EuroLeague champions Panathinaikos, along with Maccabi, Anadolu Efes, and Partizan.
It is the only stadium in the world made entirely of marble and has hosted major sporting events, including the first modern Olympics in 1896. The stadium was first built in 400 BC and then rebuilt in marble in 144 AD.
The tournament served as a preseason showcase, yet it drew the kind of crowd usually reserved for regular season or playoff games.
Fans filled the stadium to witness some of the top European basketball teams competing in a unique outdoor setting.
Partizan defeated Panathinaikos 75-64 in the final, delivering an upset victory in front of the home crowd.
In the third-place game, Anadolu Efes dominated Maccabi with a decisive 89-66 win.
The tournament offered fans a preview of the upcoming EuroLeague season and highlighted the passion for basketball in Greece.
Despite being just a preseason event, the attendance numbers were a testament to the popularity of basketball in Europe.
For Panathinaikos, the tournament was a chance to assess their roster ahead of the EuroLeague campaign.
The Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament honors the late Panathinaikos owner, a key figure in the club’s basketball history.
An outdoor basketball tournament of this scale is rare, adding to the significance of the event.
