Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
As Cyprus gears up for EuroBasket action, basketball isn’t just heating up on the court, it’s also sparking some international teamwork off of it.
On Monday, President of the Basketball Federation of Cyprus, Andreas Mouzourides, paid a visit to the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, where he met with Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel Mangis to discuss ways to give Cyprus basketball a boost. From youth development to broader exposure and sponsorships, the two explored how U.S.-Cyprus ties could help elevate the sport locally.
After their meeting, they headed over to the Tassos Papadopoulos–Eleftheria Stadium, where Cyprus’s national basketball team was in the middle of a training session ahead of the upcoming EuroBasket tournament. There, Mangis had a chance to meet American-born Darral Willis, a standout player who has been naturalized to play for the Cyprus national team.
Willis, who brings U.S. college and international pro experience, has become a key figure for Team Cyprus. Mangis, a self-confessed fan of the sport and longtime supporter of the Cyprus national squad, took time to speak with players and coaches as preparations intensify ahead of the big event.
The Deputy Chief of Mission has followed the team since its qualifying rounds and was invited to attend the Ecommbx Cup this weekend at the Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Limassol. He’s also expected to attend several EuroBasket games to cheer on Cyprus.
With energy building around the tournament and stronger bridges forming between local leaders and the U.S. diplomatic community, basketball in Cyprus seems to be enjoying a new moment in the spotlight, proving that sometimes diplomacy works best courtside.
