ACAP DC President Kendall Niles (left with flag), Operations Manager Lara Fahey (right with flag), Vice President Tomislav Ivankovic (backrow with flag), and Forrest Petrich (next to Lara) with Croatian American fans at the stands of Capital One Arena.
Washington DC – The metropolitan Croatian community gathered for the annual Croatian Heritage Night at Capital One Arena on January 19th at 3:00 PM where the Washington Wizards faced the Los Angelas Clippers. The Croatian Heritage Night was hosted by the DC chapter of the Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) to celebrate Croatian heritage, community, and basketball to spotlight LA Clipper’s center and basketball player for the Croatian national basketball team, Ivica Zubac. The Croatian Heritage Night attracted various communities from Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia with many Croatian soccer jerseys and flags waving in the stands.
In Chicago, Illinois, another Croatian Heritage Night, organized by St. Jerome’s Croatian Church, took place on the following Tuesday on January 20th at United Center while the Clippers faced the Chicago Bulls. ACAP Chicago helped coordinate the event and shared links to purchase game tickets and information. Dozens of Croatians from the windy city attend the game and received a limited-edition Chicago Bulls cap with the Croatian flag on the side with their ticket purchase.
Croatian Americans from the St. Jerome Croatian Parish with Fr. Antonio Musa (bottom left) and Ivica Zubac (middle right) at United Center in Chicago, IL
The Wizards vs Clippers game tickets were purchased through Fevo, where attendees received a free limited-edition Croatian-themed turquoise Washington Wizards Hawaiian shirt and early entry for courtside access to watch player warm-ups. Ticket sales for both games went to benefit the ACAP Foundation, supporting programs to empower Croatian American students and professionals.
President of ACAP DC Kendall Niles commented on the Croatian Heritage Night in DC:
We were honored to organize the 2nd Annual Croatian Heritage Night with the Washington Wizards, and the evening was an incredible success and a true moment of pride for our community. We were especially excited to watch the Wizards take on the Clippers, with Croatian standout Ivica Zubac on the court. Events like this allow us to celebrate not only our rich heritage, but also the important contributions of Croatians and Croatian Americans to sports and athletics. We were thrilled by the enthusiasm and support we saw this year, and we’re excited to continue growing these heritage nights—both with the Wizards and by expanding to other professional sports teams across the DC area.
The Clippers defeated the Wizards 110-106 with Zubac recorded an excellent night with double-double score with 14 points and 12 rebounds. He scored 70% from the field goal in 30 minutes of play, adding one assist and one block showing his strong presence on the court. During Tuesday’s game, the Clippers lost against the Bulls 138-110, but Zubac delivered a solid performance where he finished with a double-double score and 11 rebounds and one assist which kept possessions alive.
The day before the game on a Sunday evening, the seven-foot Herzegovinian center from Mostar was greeted by local guests and the Croatian Ambassador with an evening reception at the Croatian Embassy in DC. ACAP officials and guests where privileged privilege to meet, take photos, and sign autographs with Zubac.
ACAP DC President Kendall Niles (further left behind the first flag), Vice President Tomislav Ivankovic (further right behind the first flag), and Operations Manager Lara Fahey (kneeing in middle between the flags)
Ivica Zubac with Croatian Ambassador for the U.S. Pjer Šimunović at the Croatian Embassy in DC.
Ivica Zubac with ACAP DC representatives Kendall Niles, Lara Fahey, and Forrest Petrich
Croatian-themed Bulls Cap during Croatian Heritage Night in Chicago
Limited edition Croatian-themed Wizards Hawaiian Shirts. Photo from ACAP DC.
Maria Sentic, ACAP Immediate Past President, and Goran Gmitrovic, ACAP Chicago Chapter President, at the United Center for Croatian Heritage Night
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