After winning over Lithuania, Georgia lost two games in a row. It is impossible to say anything positive about what happened against Germany and Ukraine. These are the teams which the coaching staff was planning to beat before the start of EuroBasket. But we lost to both of them without a chance!
Ukraine was considered the weakest team of EuroBasket along with Romania but Yevgen Murzin’s team did its best against Georgia.
The scenario was the same: equal first, catastrophic second, good third and exhausted fourth quarter. Georgia’s main problem was defense. Murzin gave chance of play to all 12 players and all of them played a key role in victory. Denis Lukashov held an incredible game – he was the only one on the court who made a double-double: 17 points, 11 (!) assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals.
Only 9 players played from the Georgian national team and two of them spent only 5 minutes on the court. The Georgians looked exhausted in the last quarter.
Two games are ahead and situation is very tense. Israel is host and Italy is a favorite.
Why did we lose to Ukraine? – There are a lot of reasons. Giorgi Tsintsadze could not find his game. Michael Dixon earned only 2 points.
Giorgi Shermadini and Zaza Pachulia were the best – they earned 17 points. Giorgi had 4 rebounds and Zaza – 5. Tornike Shengelia gained 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.
Georgia will face host Israel on September 5.
Georgia - Ukraine 81:88 (20:21, 18:30, 25:16, 18:21)
Georgia: Dixon (24:30 min, 2 pts, 1 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl). Pachulia (21:22 min, 17 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl). Tsintsadze (36:20 min, 6 pts, 3 reb, 6 ast). Shermadini (18:30 min, 17 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 block). Sanadze (24:12 min, 11 pts, 2 reb, 1 block). Markoishvili (33:37 min, 11 pts, 4 reb, 1 block). Berishvili (03:47 min, 1 pts), Shengelia (35:41 min, 16 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl). Londaridze (02:01 min, 0 pts).
Points: 81, 2-point: 17/31 (54.8%), 3-point: 8/19 (42.1%), Free throws: 23/29 (79.3%). Rebounds: 29, Defensive rebounds: 24, Offensive rebounds: 5, Assists: 24, Turnovers: 16, Steals: 4, Blocks: 2.
Ukraine: Pustozvonov (25:57 min, 8 pts, 4 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl). Kolchenko (19:03 min, 7 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast). Lukashov (34:05 min, 17 pts, 6 reb, 11 ast, 3 stl). Otverchenko (04:33 min, 1 ast). Lypovyy (25:42 min, 17 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast). Korniyenko (06:52 min, 2 reb). Bobrov (29:03 min, 13 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl). Zaytsev (10:20 min, 3 pts). Pustovyi (29:32 min, 19 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl, 2 block). Koniev (07:32 min, 4 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast). Mishula (07:31 min, 0 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast).
Points: 88, 2-point: 21/40 (52,5%), 3-point: 10/27 (37%), Free throws: 16/21 (76.2%), Rebounds: 33, Offensive rebounds: 11, Defensive rebounds: 22, Assists: 23, Turnovers: 12, Steals: 7, Blocks: 3.
