Candidates of the Georgian national basketball team who are preparing for the final tournament of EuroBasket 2013 ended up fitness practices in sports complex “Arena” in Tbilisi.
On 25 July at 04:00 a.m. the candidates are leaving for Podčetrtek, Slovenia, where they will hold another meeting.
Before departing for Slovenia, on 24 July an open practicing was held in “Arena” for mass media. Tornike Shengelia, forward of the Georgian national team and “Brooklyn Nets”, may miss the Slovenian meeting due to knee injury. New naturalized basketball players Ricky Hickman (back line, “Maccabi”, Israel), forward-center Luke Zeller (“Phoenix”, NBA, USA) and members of the coaching staff: head coach Igor Kokoskov, assistant Jayson Staudt and Matt Brase will join this meeting.
The national team held the Tbilisi meeting under the guidance of new Serbian specialist Aleksandar Cvorovic. Georgian colleague Avtandil Beridze helped him. Kote Tugushi headed little basketball practices. Later Davit Ustiashvili joined Tugushi.
The team will prepare in Slovenia under the guidance of Igor Kokoskov till 6 August. Then, the team will depart for Italy where it will participate in the international tournament with Italy, Poland and Israel.
The Georgian national team will leave for EuroBasket on 2 September. The Georgians will hold the first game against Poland on 4 September.
Kote Tugushi:
- Are you satisfied with the participant candidates of the Tbilisi meeting?
- Yes, I am.
- What can you say about new fitness coach Aleksandar Cvorovic?
- He is a good specialist.
- Can you tell us about the injury of Tornike Shengelia?
- I only know that he is injured. Doctors of “Brooklyn Nets” are observing on him and seriousness of the injury will be found out in 2-3 days.
Giorgi Shermadini:
- After the injury of Zaza, you became a center of the national team…
- Head coach must decide it. Yet, Kokoskov has not made a decision.
- Are you ready for this position?
- I will do my best for the national team.
| Player
|
Position |
Team 2011-12 |
|
Giorgi Tsintsadze |
Back Line |
Budivelnyk, Ukraine |
|
Otar Pkhakadze |
Back Line |
Vermont, NCAA, USA |
|
Manuchar Markoishvili |
Back Line, Forward |
Galatasaray, Turkey |
|
Beso Lezhava |
Back Line |
Armia |
|
Duda Sanadze |
Back Line |
San Diego, NCAA, USA |
|
Revaz Rogava |
Back Line |
MIA Academy |
|
Merab Bokolishvili |
Back Line |
MIA Academy |
|
Beka Chikviladze |
Back Line, Forward |
Dinamo |
|
Ricky Hickman |
Back Line |
Maccabi, Israel |
|
Anatoli Boisa |
Back Line, Forward |
Armia |
|
Tornike Shengelia |
Forward |
Brooklyn, NBA, USA |
|
Levan Patsatsia |
Forward |
Olimpi |
|
Viktor Sanikidze |
Forward |
Montepaschi, Italy |
|
Nikoloz Tskitishvili |
Forward |
Champville, Lebanon |
|
Beka Burjanadze |
Forward |
Cajasol, Spain |
|
Nika Metreveli |
Forward, Center |
Paffoni, Italy |
|
Giorgi Shermadini |
Center |
Olympiacos, Greece |
|
Richard Matiashvili |
Center |
Kutaisi |
|
Giorgi Sharabidze |
Center |
Armia |
|
Luke Zeller |
Forward, Center |
Phoenix, NBA, USA |
The preparation plan of the national team
25 July-6 August – Meeting in Podčetrtek, Slovenia.
7-9 August – International tournament in Trento, Italy. Participants: Georgia, Italy, Poland, Israel
10-13 August – Meeting in Podčetrtek (Slovenia)
13 August – Friendly game Georgia-Bosnia in Celje, Slovenia
14 August – Friendly game Georgia-Bosnia in Jesenice, Slovenia
16-17 August – International tournament in Antibes, France. Participants: Georgia, France, Serbia
18-22 August – Meeting in Tbilisi
25-28 August – International tournament in Tel Aviv, Israel. Participants: Georgia, Israel, Latvia, the fourth team is unknown yet
1 September – Friendly game Lithuania-Georgia in Kaunas, Lithuania
2 September – Departure for Slovenia for EuroBasket
Roland Labuchidze
