At the popular pilgrimage for Ioannidis Galis: “Great man, I had him as a brother”

A crowd of people gathered to say a final “goodbye” to one of the greatest personalities of Greek basketball.

The reason for him Yannis Ioannidis, who passed away on October 4, spreading sadness to his relatives and also to the Greek (and not only) basketball family. On Friday (6/10), his body was found in Thessaloniki to be placed in a popular pilgrimage outside the Alexandria.

In such circumstances, Mr Nikos Galis could not be absent. The “gangster”, who excelled with Aris under the instructions of “Xantho”, was at the Palais to say goodbye to his old partner and “his brother”, as he described him. In fact, Galis stood visibly moved next to his coffin, holding in his arms one of the trophies they won together, during the years they were on Mars.

“The emotion is great. If I could describe Giannis in one word, I would say that he was a man. Whatever he had to say, he said it directly to your face. He had a vision since he was a child to make Aris a big team and he succeeded. I had him as a big brother. He put the team before himself. He was a great man.

It is a difficult day for me and for all Martians. I want to express my condolences to his family. He was a teacher, he gave us a lot of advice. We had many good times together, many joys and very few sorrows. It is true, neither I nor he could defeat. Some may have criticized him for his manner, but as I told you he was straightforward and I respected that.”Galis told those journalists who were there.